Student health services at the University of Pretoria from 2000 to 2005

Abstract

The University of Pretoria’s Student Health Services provides free, voluntary, family-medicine-orientated health services with an emphasis on offering preventative medicine and health education to enrolled students. Students are examined and/or educated by skilled personnel familiar with the University’s environment and demands. Apart from the family medicine services, the Student Health Services also educates students concerning contraception and sexually-transmitted diseases, carries out HIV/AIDS counselling and provides a comprehensive dietetic service. During the period 2000 to 2005 the percentage of students visiting the Student Health Services, of the total number of students enrolled at the University, remained almost constant at 12.5%. A large percentage of the students making use of these services do belong to a medical aid and it is estimated that during the past six years the University of Pretoria has subsidised an amount of about R2.4 million towards the medical costs of students belonging to a medical aid.