TO address the problem of the growing list of patients waiting to have their hip and knee replacements (Arthroplasty) done, a public private partnership between Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital and Hillcrest Busamed Private Hospital was started in 2024.

On Monday, September 15, the two hospitals celebrated their 100th joint replacement since the start of this partnership.

Roxy Naidoo, marketing manager at Hillcrest Busamed Private Hospital, said thousands of patients in the public sector are suffering from advanced degeneration of their joints, are in pain, and have no option but to wait for the State sector to assist.

“This situation is the same at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital (IALCH) where the waiting list is currently about three years to have a hip or knee replacement done.”

Also read: Partnership project to reduce backlog of hip- and knee-replacement surgeries

Through this partnership, Naidoo said the available capacity in the private hospital is used to do these hip and knee replacements at a vastly reduced cost.

“Patients from the waiting list at IALCH are taken and brought to Busamed Private hospital where their surgeries are performed. Post operative they stay in the private hospital for two to three days whereafter they are discharged back home.”

Naidoo explained that two patients are operated on every week.

She added that the partnership is continuing and hopefully it will continue to have a positive impact on many lives.

“This initiative is done through a non-profit organisation (NPO), Arthroplasty Solutions, of which Dr M Ter Haar, an orthopaedic surgeon at Busamed Hospital, is the founder.

Shawn Singh (48), who had a left hip replacement, said before his hip replacement, pain controlled his life.

“I struggled with simple tasks and lost my independence. Since the surgery I’ve regained mobility, freedom and the joy in everyday activities. It gave me my life back. The doctor and his team were extremely supportive and attentive throughout. He’s an excellent surgeon and highly recommended.

“He performed my left hip replacement last year, August 2024, at Busamed Hillcrest,” said Singh.

Another patient, Bonginkosi Hadebe (62), said his surgery went very well.

“My left knee healed sooner than anticipated. In just a month, I could walk long distances without using a walking stick. I truly enjoyed my stay at the hospital,” he said.

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