Continuity of Care for Persons with Disabilities in South Africa: An Exploratory Analysis of Four Health Policies

Continuity of Care (CoC) refers to how individuals experience care over time and is a vital component of delivering high-quality, person-centred primary healthcare (PHC). It is especially valuable for Persons with Disabilities who experience barriers in accessing healthcare and are at risk for poor health outcomes. In South Africa (SA), as the healthcare system evolves and aims to achieve universal healthcare, it is crucial to evaluate how primary healthcare policies address the CoC needs of Persons with Disabilities within primary healthcare (PHC). This study examined four policies: (1) the Policy on Quality in Health Care for South Africa (2007), (2) the Policy Framework and Strategy for Ward-Based Primary Healthcare Teams (2018/19–2023/24), (3) the Referral Policy for South African Health Services and Referral Implementation Guidelines, and (4) the Framework and Strategy for Disability and Rehabilitation Services in South Africa (FSDR) (2015–2020). Using an exploratory modified EquiFrame analysis, the findings reveal interesting insights into how CoC is conceptualized and articulated across these policies. While the Framework and Strategy for Disability and Rehabilitation Services displayed moderate alignment with CoC’s Core Concepts, it lacked detailed implementation strategies. Although PHC policies in SA recognize the significance of CoC, they exhibit gaps in conceptual clarity and practical application, posing challenges for the implementation of integrated and inclusive health systems.