Towards value‐based rehabilitation: an analysis of South African policies for people with disabilities

Abstract South Africa has progressively established good healthcare policies and actively promotes the rights of people with disabilities. However, as the healthcare sector is moving towards value‐based care to achieve universal health coverage, it remains unclear whether South African rehabilitation policies provide sufficient guidance for delivering value‐based rehabilitation services for people with disabilities. This article attempts to ascertain whether the content of South African rehabilitation policies is aligned with value‐based care. Rehabilitation policies were identified through a literature search (including grey literature) and discussions with stakeholders in the health policy field. A framework for value‐based care was created for deductive policy content analysis. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to describe the content that correlates with the framework's components. The National Rehabilitation Policy and the Framework and Strategy for Disability and Rehabilitation Services were included in this study. Both documents aligned with the value‐based framework, however, various barriers in South Africa challenge value‐based rehabilitation services. We conclude that South Africa's rehabilitation policies can guide value‐based rehabilitation services. However, these policies need to be operationalized and supported by empirical data on disability and rehabilitation services. A concerted effort is required from the government to ensure the allocation of resources for the implementation of policy.