2 research outputs found
Resource allocation during COVID-19 : a focus on vulnerable populations
South Africa (SA) is a country of contrasts, with abundant resources, hard-won civil rights and a diverse population. Woven into the fabric of
our society is a large divide between its poorest and its wealthiest members. In this article we highlight the vulnerabilities in our society that
have been amplified by the COVID-19 crisis. Based on recent projections, it is very likely that the healthcare system will be overwhelmed. We
acknowledge the recognition by government and civil society of these vulnerabilities, and note that difficult decisions will need to be made
with regard to resource allocation. Our plea, however, is to ensure that human dignity and the principle of distributive justice are maintained,
and that when difficult decisions are made, vulnerable people do not suffer disproportionately. Furthermore, it is of great concern that
there is no national directive guiding resource allocation, prioritisation and triage decisions in both public and private hospitals. The Health
Professions Council of SA should, as a matter of urgency, issue guidance on priority-setting and triage decisions in the context of COVID-19,
based on distributive justice principles.The joint Department of Science and Technology and National Research Foundation Doctoral Innovation Scholarship, the SA Medical Research Council and the University of Pretoria (through the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine).http://www.sajbl.org.zaam2021Immunolog
Contact tracing during the COVID-19 pandemic : protection of personal information in South Africa
Containing the COVID-19 pandemic necessitates the use of personal information without the consent of the person. The protection of
personal information is fundamental to the rights that ensure an open and democratic society. When regulations that limit the right to
privacy are issued outside of the democratic process, every effort must be made to protect personal information and privacy. The limitation
of human rights must be treated as an exception to the norm, and any regulations should be drafted to ensure minimum limitation of rights,
rather than to the minimum acceptable standard. The contact tracing regulations included in the COVID-19 disaster regulations include
some basic principles to ensure privacy; however, other important principles are not addressed. These include principles of transparency and
data security. The envisaged future use of human data for research purposes, albeit de-identified, needs to be addressed by the COVID-19
designated judge appointed under the regulations.The joint Department of Science and Technology and National Research Foundation Doctoral Innovation Scholarship, the SA Medical Research Council (Flagship and Extramural Unit awards) and the University of Pretoria (through the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine).http://www.sajbl.org.zaam2021Immunolog