The Gauteng Department of Health has declared Mamelodi Regional Hospital the first hospital in Gauteng to meet National Health Insurance (NHI) standards after a major upgrade.
News24 report that on 19 September, Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko unveiled the hospital's newly refurbished sections.
"To those who doubt our commitment to becoming NHI-ready, look no further than Mamelodi Hospital. Once considered among facilities facing challenges, it now stands proudly as one of the best in our province. This transformation showcases what is possible when we blend vision, determination, and hard work," said Nkomo-Ralehoko.
The newly constructed extensions at the Mamelodi Regional Hospital include a female medical ward expanded to a 40-bed capacity, a male surgical ward similarly extended to accommodate 40 patients, and a paediatric ward with an additional 10 beds, bringing its total capacity to 40.
The hospital's CEO, Dr Naing Soe, took News24 on a tour to reveal the refurbished sections of the hospital.
He said these enhancements were crucial due to the steady influx of patients putting significant pressure on the hospital's wards.
"We are ready under the NHI. We have almost 100% refurbished our hospital and have upgraded all the equipment, including new radiology, mammography, CT scan, and theatre facilities.
"Our patient numbers have increased tremendously, so we had no choice but to expand to decrease wait times and reduce overcrowding in the casualty ward," Soe added.
He said the hospital now operated with 500 beds and saw about 3 500 casualty patients and 10 000 patients in the outpatient department each month.
After the refurbishments, Soe added, the inpatient occupancy rate exceeded 100% monthly, surpassing the standard 85% for regional hospitals.
He highlighted the positive impact of the renovations on the hospital staff and community.
"The community is very grateful to our hospital, and the staff is highly motivated. All our staff members serve our community with a smile every day. Complaints are minimal, and patient and staff relationships are fantastic."
He said the hospital was now 100% compliant with occupational health and safety, infection control, and prevention standards.
Occupational health and safety standards
In 2023, the hospital received a 92.6% rating for occupational health and safety, Soe added.
"Mamelodi Hospital is the first in Gauteng Province to receive the Office of the Health Standards Compliance certificate for NHI."
He emphasised the importance of the NHI programme, saying: "NHI is an amazing programme from our government, providing equitable healthcare to all citizens of South Africa. The government is committed to increasing bed capacity, human resources, infrastructure, and equipment through this funding model."
The clinical manager at the hospital, Dr Busisiwe Mankge, said the hospital was a work in progress.
"We still have the orthopaedics ward under construction, and our archives area is being developed to ensure the confidentiality and safety of patient information.
"Our hospital is spotless and clean and committed to maintaining high patient care and safety standards."
Patients eager to speak to News24 expressed their satisfaction with the care they received.
News24 – WATCH | Mamelodi Regional Hospital becomes first NHI-ready facility in Gauteng