Book of Contemporary Multidisciplinary Research

South Africa is struggling with a weak economy, high unemployment rates and low GDP per capita, thus limiting the government's ability to allocate sufficient funds to public healthcare, resulting in an underdeveloped public healthcare system with a shortage of healthcare professionals, inadequate medical facilities and limited access to essential resources. The lack of funding exacerbates existing inequalities in access to healthcare, disproportionately affecting marginalised and vulnerable populations. Poor health undermines economic productivity and perpetuates the cycle of poverty, as families and communities bear the burden of healthcare costs and lost income due to illness.  The study investigated the implications of inadequate funding in the South African Public Healthcare sector by examining the challenges experienced by frontline healthcare workers and how these challenges impact service delivery and patient care. Guided by the objectives to identify challenges and how these challenges shape health outcomes, the research adopted a descriptive exploratory design using a mixed-method approach. The purposive sample of 322 frontline healthcare workers from two central hospitals completed an in-depth questionnaire. The quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 27.0, and thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative aspects of the study. The findings revealed that the severe shortages of staff (91%), resources constraints (71%), crisis in management and leadership (26%), increased litigation (77%), inadequate cleanliness (54%) poor infection control (70%), long waiting times (54%) and a rising disease burden (50%) are all linked chronic under funding and weak governance. The implications of the study highlight the need for a stronger theoretical understanding of how funding affects the performance of healthcare institutions, practical improvements in hospital operations and support for the workforce, as well as policy interventions to increase financial investment, ensure equitable resource distribution and strengthen accountability within the public healthcare system.  Addressing the lack of funding in the South African public healthcare sector requires a multi-faceted approach, including increased domestic investment in healthcare, improved governance and accountability, innovative financing mechanisms and strengthening partnerships with donors and international organisations.