Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)

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Subject: search.filters.subject.SDG-3: Good health and well-being

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    The constitutionality of COVID 19 Vaccination Policies and its implications on the right to freedom of religion in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Karuaihe, Janee Raahua Siegfried
    Covid-19 was declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a disease affecting people over a large geographical area. It caused severe illness to millions of people around the world and the death of over four million people. This impact on people had a direct effect on employers, employees and the workplace. Religions and those practicing their religion weren’t spared from the impact of Covid-19. To control the impact of Covid-19 on the workplace, employers were obligated to take steps to keep the workplace safe and to ensure that businesses can reopen in a manner that would ensure the safety of employees and the public. One of the measures taken by employers to ensure the safety of the workplace was the introduction of vaccination policies. These policies varied from workplace to workplace, but a consistent feature was that employees were required to be vaccinated to return to the workplace. If such workplace were to be implemented without exception, it would fail to recognise the fact that certain religious practices and certain people who practice various religions do not permit vaccines, and where they do, only certain vaccines are allowed. As there is no specific legislation governing the implementation of vaccination policies in the workplace, many employees across South Africa believed these policies unjustifiably limited rights protected by the Constitution, including the right to religion. The courts have accepted that vaccination policies may have the effect of limiting rights that are protected in terms of the Bill of Rights. Still, such limitations may be justified where the employer takes steps and introduces such a policy where necessary to ensure the safety of the workplace.
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    Realising the right to healthcare: the legislative frameworks pertaining to private health establishments and private healthcare funding models in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Labuschagne-Kom, Lindsie; Mahery, Prinslean; Martin, Blake
    The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognises access to healthcare as a fundamental human right and is guaranteed by the South African Constitution. An analysis of this right reveals that it comprises of two main components, namely financing and delivery of healthcare services. These are fulfilled by the government in the public sector and by private healthcare funders and private health establishments in the private sector. However, an analysis reveals that access to healthcare is substantively inequitable due to the fragmentation of the health system and unveils significant inefficiencies in the private sector that impeded realisation of this right. This dissertation examines the cause of this fragmentation and the inefficiencies within the private healthcare funders and private health establishments market. It investigates how these issues can be resolved to realise the right to healthcare. This study applied a qualitative desktop review of governmental policies, direct and incidental legislation, and multidisciplinary fields of academic reviews such as competition, healthcare, constitutional law and international policies to evaluate the effect of historical, contemporary and prospective policies and legislation, on access to healthcare. This analysis reveals that access to healthcare was historically manipulated to achieve political ideology through a legislative framework that provided the foundation for private funding models and private health establishments to flourish. This occurred at the expense of the public sector and embedded the fragmentation and inefficiencies in the health system. Notwithstanding the enactment of the Constitution, which envisioned a transformed and equal society, access to healthcare remains substantively inequitable. This is due to governmental failings to regulate these stakeholders. Given this state of affairs, the government intends to enact legislative reform through the National Health Insurance Bill to meet its constitutional mandate to realise the right to healthcare. An analysis of the Bill’s framework, however, reveals that it will have a cascading effect with the collapse of the private healthcare funders and private health establishment markets. This will ultimately cause a regression in access to healthcare and impede the practical realisation of this right. An investigation into alternative mechanisms to fulfil the right to healthcare reveals that incorporation and collaboration with private healthcare funders and private health establishments is a pragmatic alternative to the National Health Insurance Bill that will aid with the practical realisation and vindication of this right. These findings indicate the need for government to improve its stewardship of the health system and provide pragmatic solutions to reform the legislative and regulatory frameworks governing these stakeholders to resolve inefficiencies and to foster collaboration to fulfil the right to healthcare.
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    The price effects of a hospital merger: a case study of the Mediclinic Southern Africa (Pty) Limited (Mediclinic) and Matlosana Medical Health Services (Pty) Limited (MMHS) merger
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Laurence, Marcelle; Mncube, Liberty
    This study evaluates the assessment conducted in the prohibited Mediclinic Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd and Matlosana Medical Health Services (Pty) Ltd (MMHS) proposed merger. The study employs a qualitative approach, centred on a case study methodology, to assess the theories of harm discussed. It aims to provide insights into the adequacy and outcome of the competition authorities’ assessment drawing comparisons to international literature and policy implications. It uses economic theory to analyse and show the significance of robust and nuanced regulatory frameworks in healthcare merger evaluation.
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    Caregiver capabilities and socio-economic disparities in children’s health-related quality of life
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Turner, Georgia
    This study investigates the relationship between children’s health-related quality of life and the associated contextual factors. Furthermore, this study analyses the socio-economic disparities that exist amongst children and what particular social determinants of health are influencing their health and wellbeing. Using an OLS regression as well as the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition, the results show how children with a lower socio-economic status experience a lower HRQOL as opposed to those with a higher socio-economic status. Furthermore, this paper reports new research on the association of caregiver’s capabilities and children’s HRQOL which represents an important explanation for children’s health-related quality of life. Caregivers’ capabilities are a set of tools that enables parents to manage work, life and parenting effectively. The results provide evidence how important these capabilities are as it contributes to a better health related quality of life in their children. The findings show how a higher socio-economic status is associated with better caregiver capabilities. This is an important finding in the South African context, as exorbitant social inequalities exist, and hence, improving adult capabilities could potentially result in not only aiding to narrow the socio-economic disparity gap, but also improving the overall quality and health of children. This also leads to the premise of a bi-directional association whereby improving caregivers’ socio-economic status may likely also improve their capabilities.
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    Different forms of government regimes and covid-19 outcomes in Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Masiya, Ulemu Vanessa; Olukoshi, Adebayo
    This study examines extent to which the government regime types contributed to explaining the low COVID 19 mortality and infection cases in Africa. The study analyses panel data from 54 countries in Africa across a 2-year period from January 2020 to December 2021. The following factors of demography, GDP per Capital, health expenditure, and government effectiveness were included as control variables in the models. The results of the panel regression analysis indicated that while authoritarian and partially democratic regimes were positively associated with a surge in COVID-19 cases and fatalities compared to fully democratic countries in Africa, the association lacked statistical significance. In contrast, government effectiveness and health expenditure were observed to be negatively associated with reduced COVID 19 mortality and infection rates at the 5 percent significance level. Hence, this result emphasized the role of good governance and increased health spending in managing the pandemic’s mortality and infection rates across the different types of government regimes in Africa.
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    The Impact of Firm and Consumer Attributes on Retail Pharmacy Strategy
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Bittah, Gorgozcynski; Mondi, Lumkile
    Retail pharmacy have undergone substantial transformation over the past two decades. This is mostly brought on by internal and external stressors exacerbating competition within the retail pharmacy environment. With the rapid establishment and expansion of discount pharmacies, stricter legislations, complex consumer and market dynamics, community pharmacies are battling to survive in the pharmacy space they once dominated. The objectives of the study were to determine how retail pharmacy and consumers interact to establish and maintain a competitive advantage and how attributes of the marketing mix influence consumer behaviour in a retail pharmacy space. For a greater understanding of the relationships between the various variables and how they interact and influence pharmacy strategy, structured survey questionnaires were used to collect data on the attributes of retail pharmacies and consumers. Data from 344 respondents were evaluated for reliability and normalcy using IBM's Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 28), before being subjected to the appropriate inferential statistical analyses. The study results indicate that males and females react differently to the marketing mix, suggesting a preference for various strategies used by retail pharmacies to attract and retain consumers. The results further indicate that respondents with medical healthcare are more responsive to a particular marketing mix than respondents without, implying that retail pharmacies are incorporating these parameters in the development of their strategies. Lastly, the data confirms the association between certain marketing mix and retail pharmacy types. The research further indicates a strong correlation between the attributes of the marketing mix, however, the extent of this association varies between the attributes. The strongest correlation was identified between price and product, implying that pharmacy strategy prioritizes both factors. Additional findings points to a relationship between pharmacy and consumer attributes, the most evident of which being age and medical healthcare status. Price, promotion, and process are recognized as the key components of the marketing mix that pharmacies need to establish and retain a competitive advantage.
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    Diversity Management in the Ghanaian Health Sector: A Case Study of the NHIA
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Inweregbu, Cynthia Ngozi; Maier, Christoph
    Diversity management has become a critical tool in ensuring efficiency and productivity in organisations and societies. Research has recognized several conceptualisations of diversity and provided direction for effective and better ways of implementing diversity management at an organisational and national level. However, it has been contended that emphasis on conceptualising diversity management has mainly been within the context of the western perspective. Diversity management is an emerging aspect of management, which embodies on disciplines such as sociology, psychology, and human resource. The concept of diversity management has assumed global dimension and a context specific approach is required to make it effective. In this regard, it has been established by scholars to be a potent management tool in the globalised world. This call for an approach which suits the African and for that matter the Ghanaian context. To this effect, this research explores the concept, policies, and challenges of diversity management from Ghanaian perspective to assist in fashioning out a context specific strategy to diversity management. A qualitative methodology (case study approach) was employed to answer the research questions and realise the objectives. In line with the tenets of the chosen methodology, which requires data absoluteness, the interviewees and focus group members were selected through purposively sampling. There were thirty-four in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions conducted at the NHIA head office and regional office. Coding and thematic analysis were employed to identify the conceptualisation of diversity, policies in place for diversity management and challenges encountered in relation to diversity management at the NHIA. The results suggests that diversity can be described as differences in ethnic background, political affiliation, gender, religious belief, languages, and age. Further, the result points to the fact that an individual cannot be only identified by one characteristic but several of them. ii Additionally, this study identified couple of areas that needs attention to ensure an effective diversity management at the NHIA. The work environment in NHIA is very diverse and drives the complexity therein. The socio-cultural, religious, and political differences are very entrenched and require an effective diversity framework that ensures the presence of critical elements such as appreciation of uniqueness and the sense of belonging. Subsequently, a model was developed from the findings of the study to highlight the critical elements driving the dynamics of diversity management in NHIA. Additionally, the identified elements serve as tools which can be employed to allay the challenges encountered in ensuring effective management of diversity in NHIA and similar environments. Future studies may be conducted to validate the framework developed in this study and establish generalisabilty in the health industry and in other public organisations. A comparative case study research focusing on a private and public sector could also enrich the framework
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    The effects of COVID 19 on consumer mobile and online purchase behaviour
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Chanetsa, Edphan Peter; Saini, Yvonne K.
    There obtains an acute paucity of research on the how Covid-19 impacted consumer online and mobile application purchase behaviour in South Africa. Much of the work done on the impact of the pandemic on consumer behaviour has primarily focused on one aspect: online purchase behaviour. This study sought to assess the effects of the restrictions of the novel Covid-19 virus on consumer mobile and online purchase behaviour. The main objective was to understand the impact of Covid-19 related restrictions on mobile application purchase intention in grocery shopping. Similarly, the study also sought to understand the impact of Covid-19 related restrictions on online (desktop/laptop) purchase intention in grocery shopping. An online survey was conducted wherein 345 responses were obtained. The study employed a mixed methodology approach with the primary analysis being done quantitatively employing path analysis to establish the existence of causal links between Covid-19 restrictions and consumer behaviour in terms of both direction and magnitude. Regression analysis was further carried out to corroborate the findings of the path analysis. The qualitative aspect of the analysis was primarily employed to buttress the results of the quantitative analysis. The results showed that Covid-19 had a significant and positive impact on mobile and online consumer behaviour in South Africa. The advent of the pandemic caused an increase in the uptake of alternative means of making grocery purchases. Specifically, the institution of Covid-19 restrictions produced a substitution effect wherein digital purchase platforms were preferred to in-store purchases of groceries. Consequently, all the hypotheses developed by the study proved to be robust as they were confirmed by the results
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    Challenges of Entering New Pharmaceutical Markets in Nigeria and Ghana
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Motshoane, Thato Sebabatso
    Background: The pharmaceutical market is renowned for its stringent regulations and continuous production of superior drugs and products intended for human consumption. This study investigates the regulatory landscape of two African countries, namely Nigeria and Ghana, and the challenges of entering these economies as a result of the absence of regulatory harmonisation. The goal is to establish a regulatory framework that will facilitate the introduction of novel medicines and medical supplies into the market. Method: The research methodology employed involved the collection, processing, and evaluation of empirical evidence. The chosen strategy was qualitative research. Results: Entering new or foreign pharmaceutical market requires careful consideration, planning, and abiding by the regulatory requirements of the respective countries. Sustained prosperity will be guaranteed by enhancements in quality control and partnerships with local distributors and manufacturers. Partnering with local consultants who are familiar with the regulatory landscape, as well as local laws and policies is crucial. Lastly, it is important to be familiar with regulatory requirements from NAFDAC and the FDA to ensure ongoing compliance with evolving regulations. Conclusion: Improving the local pharmaceutical market in both countries encourages the entry of foreign international pharmaceutical corporations, thus stimulating the economy of both nations. Local pharmaceutical companies in Ghana and Nigeria can strengthen their competitive edge by increasing barriers to entry. This can be achieved by raising the calibre of goods produced, increasing operational effectiveness, lowering production costs, and engaging in local innovation initiatives. Locals should maximize local government subsidies while utilizing the local context, including the nation's culture and consumer base to their advantage
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    The impact of pregnancy on women in the ferrochrome industry in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Moropa, Thabiso Sekia; Appiah, Erasmus Kofi
    This thesis presents a comprehensive exploration of the ramifications of pregnancy on women employed within South Africa's ferrochrome industry. Drawing on a meticulous review of literature, including studies by notable researchers such as Dr. Nobuhle, Solomons, Dikgwatlhe and Mulenga, the research delves into the multifaceted challenges faced by women in this sector. The study illuminates the nuanced impact of pregnancy on the career trajectories of women within the ferrochrome industry. Synthesising literature insights with participants' perspectives, the research underscores recurring barriers such as limited access, safety concerns, and entrenched gender-based discrimination, both in academic discourse and on the ground. Employing a qualitative approach, the thesis critically evaluates company policies governing pregnancy and their alignment with fundamental employment conditions. Through one-on-one interviews and data analysis, the research unearths discrepancies between articulated policies and their actual implementation, highlighting persistent gaps that adversely affect the well- being of pregnant employees within ferrochrome mining companies. Furthermore, the study explores workplace safety, accommodation, and the financial implications entailed by pregnancy in the ferrochrome industry. By correlating literature insights with participant narratives, the research emphasises the challenges faced by pregnant women and advocates for strategic improvements to create a safer and more supportive work environment. Findings: The qualitative methodology reveals that pregnant woman in the ferrochrome industry encounter challenges in career advancement, face role constraints, and struggle with work-life balance. Participants emphasise the need for improved policies and support from both companies and colleagues. Issues such as physical strain in hazardous areas, emotional stress, and financial impact of extended maternity leave are prevalent. Suggestions range from flexible work arrangements to awareness programs, advocating for better policies and empathetic workplaces. Ultimately, the participants urge for a culture shift, ensuring fair treatment and empowerment for pregnant women in the mining industry. In conclusion, this thesis propels discussions on the strategic imperative of nurturing a social license within South Africa's ferrochrome industry. It examines how companies can empower women through policy reforms, fostering an environment conducive to gender equality, inclusivity, and community engagement. The findings contribute to a robust understanding of the impact of pregnancy on various facets of the ferrochrome mining industry, offering meaningful conclusions and recommendations for a more equitable landscape within the sector