The City of Johannesburg will extend operating hours at five more clinics, including in Zandspruit and Randburg, following the Princess Clinic success.
Mayor Herman Mashaba initiated the extended hours pilot project, believing it would go a long way toward providing improved health services to the majority of the City’s poor communities, on their doorsteps.
The commencement date is 1 April at a cost of R4,3 million, according to the passed adjustment budget.
Read: What has Mayor Mashaba been up to during his 100 days in office?
The extended operating hours at Hikinsile Clinic, Albert Street Clinic, Zandspruit Clinic and Randburg Clinic will be from 7am to 7pm on weekdays. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, the hours will be from 7.30am to 1.30pm.
Freedom Park Clinic will be the only clinic that will stay open until 10pm on weekdays.
Mashaba said that from November last year through to February, over 10 000 patients visited the Princess Clinic.
“As a reflection of the need for the extended clinic operating hours, approximately 2 822 (26.2 per cent) patients out of the total were seen during the extended hours.
“This means that nearly 3 000 of our residents in the catchment area were able to access basic health care services which they were previously unable to access. Through this project, we can ensure that the poor and most vulnerable in our City are able to access quality, basic health care and ensure that all our residents have an equal opportunity to lead healthier lives,” he said.
More staff were employed at the Princess Clinic.
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If you plan to pay a visit to a clinic near you, you can expect to be there for over an hour, or two, or even five if you go at the wrong time. Clinics are usually packed in the mornings with patient numbers dwindling just after lunch time. Not all clinics have doctors every day. Doctors do, however, go to every clinic once or twice a week. Patients will most likely be seen by a professional nurse who will dispense medicine for free and write a sick note for the time spent there.
Furst time in my life I have ever gone to a public @CityofJoburgZA clinic to see the doctor. And it's free. pic.twitter.com/OxLGD3Agl3
— Cllr Chantelle Fourie-Shawe (@cfshawe) March 1, 2017
The clinic today has one doctor, 2 nurse clinicians, 2 enrolled nurses, 2 admin clerks and 3 general workers pic.twitter.com/IyRrs9OkcO
— Cllr Chantelle Fourie-Shawe (@cfshawe) March 1, 2017
Also read: Criticism from EFF, ANC over adjustment budget
This is a system that patients have come to accept, but few agree with.
The mayor said the City is working tirelessly to change the face of the health-care system in the City. He said quality health care is a priority because a healthy city is a working city.
Tell us about your experience when utilising the clinics. Send your thoughts to chantellef@caxton.co.za.
