By Johannah Malogadihlare
In preparation for the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI), the Gauteng health department is ensuring that it upgrades and maintains healthcare infrastructure.
The department continues to make headlines for the poor state of hospitals and clinics across the province.
“As we prepare ourselves for the implementation of the NHI, there is an urgency to accelerate our efforts to upgrade existing healthcare facilities and build new ones to meet this demand,” Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko told reporters on Thursday.
“We want to assure the people of Gauteng that our plan to improve hospitals and clinics in the province is in full swing to better serve the communities.”
She was speaking at the Mamelodi Regional Hospital in Tshwane where the department officially unveiled five newly refurbished areas and three extended wards, which it said would significantly ease the pressure on the hospital, allowing it to cater for more patients.
The MEC provided an extensive list of ugprades and refurbishments of hospitals and clinics throughout the province.
At Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Tshwane, all entrances have been refurbished to enhance the hospital’s image.
The department has also completed the construction of two new clinics – Mandisa Siceka and Kekanastad, and the Boikhutsong Day Clinic is 80% complete.
In Ekurhuleni, the casualty unit of Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital has been renovated.
“Contractors have also been appointed to service several equipment on a monthly, quarterly and bi-annually basis to minimise the breakdowns. These include the mortuary cold rooms, elevators, air conditioners, medical air compressors and sluice machines,” the MEC said.
At Tambo Memorial Hospital, renovations are being done to the entire hospital.
She said significant progress continued at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto, where numerous projects had been completed, including the psychiatric admission ward and extensions to the adult burns unit.
And since a fire at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, progress has been made in fixing the affected areas.
The MEC also reiterated that four hospital would be built in Orange Farm, Diepsloot, Daveyton and Soshanguve.
“These hospitals will add to the existing 37 public hospitals in Gauteng and bring the total to 41 and contribute positively in expanding access to healthcare and bridge the healthcare gap in township areas,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.
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