by AKANI CHAUKE
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed the urgent need to ensure equitable healthcare access for all South Africans, particularly historically underserved communities.
His remarks follow a landmark medical achievement at Mankweng Hospital in Limpopo, where a multidisciplinary team successfully separated conjoined twins in a highly complex operation.
The procedure, carried out by surgeons, nurses and healthcare workers, has been hailed as a demonstration of exceptional skill and coordination.
Ramaphosa praised the medical team, expressing deep gratitude for their dedication.
He described the operation not only as a milestone in surgical excellence but also as evidence of the capabilities within South Africa’s public healthcare system.
He attributed such successes to sustained national investment in medical training, including subsidised education, bursaries for disadvantaged students, and practical experience through internship and community service programmes.
Despite these achievements, Ramaphosa acknowledged persistent inequalities in healthcare access.
He emphasised that the constitutional right to healthcare should not be determined by geography or income, noting that rural communities must receive the same quality of care as urban areas.
Central to addressing this disparity is the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI), which aims to provide universal access to quality healthcare without financial hardship.
Ramaphosa described the NHI as a transformative mechanism to bridge the gap between public and private healthcare systems.
Currently, only a small proportion of South Africans access private healthcare, despite it being well-resourced, while the majority rely on the public sector, which faces funding and capacity challenges.
This imbalance has resulted in significantly higher per capita spending in the private sector compared to the public system.
Ramaphosa stressed the importance of collaboration across sectors, calling for stronger partnerships between public and private healthcare providers, academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies and communities.
He highlighted the need for shared expertise, improved training, and better retention of healthcare professionals.
Government efforts are underway to strengthen public healthcare infrastructure, including upgrading facilities, expanding community health programmes, improving medicine availability and introducing digital systems.
Ramaphosa concluded that the success at Mankweng Hospital reflects what is possible when skill, commitment and investment align, underscoring the need to build a healthcare system that delivers quality, dignity and equal access for all.
– CAJ News