Following recent oversight visits to Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital this month, the Gauteng Health Department says it is committed to improving patient experience and service delivery by investing in the long-neglected facility.

This was communicated by the Health MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, on March 12.

The MEC said, regarding budget concerns, the facility’s ageing infrastructure and dated book-keeping methods needed refurbishment.

Nkomo-Ralehoko said they met with management and members of the legislature to brief them on issues that need to be addressed.

Record and queue management were discussed. They were taken through the pharmacy.

The MEC said Kalafong was among the hospitals where progress had stalled in the current financial year.

Nkomo-Ralehoko said queue management has already been started in other hospitals, and by digitising their records.

“In the next few weeks, you will find contractors on-site to start installing those two key areas, something that everyone has seen needs to be corrected,” Nkomo-Ralehoko said.

The MEC said the department has tried to assist elders in getting their medication with less queuing time, but it is still a slow process because of the number of patients the hospital accommodates.

Kalafong not only tends to the surrounding area of Atteridgeville but also regularly sees patients across Pretoria.

The hospital has already recently undergone major infrastructure and service upgrades, including the procurement of a new CT scan and theatre equipment, replacement of standby generators, boiler preparation, upgraded ICU and high care support systems.

Refurbishment of wards, installation of smoke detectors, replacement of autoclaves, HVAC and chiller system improvements, expanded staff training, and strengthened patient safety measures have also taken place.

The Provincial Legislature’s visit is to critically evaluate how healthcare platforms function, how they are governed, and whether they are efficiently meeting the health needs of residents across Gauteng.

In a social media post, the committee stated that as one of the province’s key tertiary hospitals, Kalafong plays an important role in the public health system, remaining central to protecting the lives and well-being of communities.

The committee also sought to understand how the hospital is positioned to support the future implementation of the National Health Insurance Act, and how digitalisation initiatives set to commence from April 1 will improve access, data management, and service efficiency.

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