In a bid to improve access to healthcare services, the Gauteng provincial government wants to increase the number of 24-hour community healthcare centres across the entire province.

Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said they planned on increasing the number of such centres to 40 by the end of its sixth administration term.

“Community healthcare centres provide comprehensive health services such as 24/7 access to X-rays and laboratory services, maternity units, accident and emergency and pharmaceutical services.”

He said such centres help reduce patient overload on hospitals by equitably sharing resources.

Other services that had been prioritised included increasing operating hours at theatres and radiology services at targeted district hospitals.

More staff was continuously being employed to ensure better care.

Modiba said these interventions by the department were a testimony to the provincial government’s commitment to a patient-centred, clinician-led and stakeholder-driven health sector.

Such centres’ budgets were determined by the population size, demographics and the burden of diseases, which included TB, HIV/AIDS, hypertension, diabetes and other chronic illnesses.

“We encourage the community to go to these centres before visiting hospitals to reduce any delays.

“Patients are examined on arrival and referred to hospitals if there is a need.”