A City of Johannesburg Press Statement by The Executive Mayor, Cllr Herman Mashaba
We are working tirelessly to change the face of the Health Care System in the City of Johannesburg. Quality health care is a priority for us because a healthy city is a working city.
Effective from 1 April 2017, the City will be rolling out extended operating hours at five more clinics. This follows the success of the pilot project at the Princess Clinic and necessary budget being allocated for this purpose in the recently approved Adjustment Budget.
The five clinics where this will take place are:
- Freedom Park Clinic;
- Hikinsile Clinic;
- Randburg Clinic;
- Zandspruit Clinic; and
- Albert Street clinic.
The table below details the operating hours at these Clinics:
| Clinic | Current Operating Hours | Extended Operating Hours |
| Freedom Park Clinic – Region G | Weekdays 07:30 to 16:00 | Weekdays: 07:00 to 22:00 Weekend (Saturday and Sunday) and Public Holidays: 07:30 to 13:30 |
| 80 Albert Street Clinic – Regions F | Weekdays 07:30 to 16:00 | Weekdays: 07:00 to 19:00 Weekend (Saturday and Sunday) and Public Holidays: 07:30 to 13:30 |
| Hikensile Clinic – Region A | Weekdays 07:30 to 16:00 | Weekdays: 07:00 to 19:00 Weekend (Saturday and Sunday) and Public Holidays: 07:30 to 13:30 |
| Randburg – Region B | Weekdays 07:30 to 16:00 | Weekdays: 07:00 to 19:00
Weekend (Saturday and Sunday) and Public Holidays: 07:30 to 13:30 |
| Zandspruit – Region C | Weekdays 07:30 to 16:00 | Weekdays: 07:00 to 19:00 Weekend (Saturday and Sunday) and Public Holidays: 07:30 to 13:30 |
Following the successful implementation of pilot project at the Princess Clinic in October 2016, the City has embarked on a process to introduce comprehensive health and social services at all clinics in the near future.
In the past, the Princess Clinic, like all other clinics in Johannesburg, was only open from 8:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday. This was wholly inadequate to deal with the serious health challenge our communities are facing.
The Princess Clinic’s operating hours were extended to provide services from 7:00 to 22:00, Monday to Friday, and from 7:30 to 13:30 on weekends, including public holidays.
From November 2016 through to February 2017, a total of 10,791 patients visited the Princess Clinic. As a reflection on the need for the extended clinic operating hours, approximately 2,822 (26.2%) patients out of the total were seen during the extended hours.
This means that nearly 3000 of our residents in the catchment area were able to access basic health care services which they were previously unable to access. Through this project, we can ensure that the poor and most vulnerable in our City are able to access quality, basic health care and ensure that all our residents have equal opportunity to lead healthier lives.
In addition to this, more staff have also been employed to ensure that the clinic is well capacitated during all its operating hours.
One of the substantial advantages of this strategy is that everyone can get the care they need exactly when they need it. It is also a perfect solution for those who need a routine check-up or want assistance with managing chronic conditions without having to take a day off work or school.
We have experienced a few emergency cases since the extension of operating hours at Princess Clinic. Patients’ lives were saved in two specific cases. A three year old boy was rushed to the clinic due to shortness of breath, and diagnosed with pneumonia. Additionally, a pregnant woman in labour arrived at the clinic and received emergency care before being rushed to Rahimma Moosa Hospital.
We are also in the process of rendering comprehensive social services to all clinics in Joburg, including conducting community outreach programmes where necessary.
The Social Development Department, is identifying ways to create social and physical environments that promotes good health for all. The areas of intervention targeted by the department are:
- Food insecurity;
- The quality of Early Childhood Development education;
- Drug abuse and addiction; and
- Indigent households.
Our work has an integrated and holistic focus on the wellbeing of communities, ensuring preventative as well as curative health services across all age groups. Other support services are rendered in old age homes and retirement villages. Health Promotion and Healthy Lifestyle campaigns are also conducted in communities and at schools.
I would like to thank MMC for Health and Social Development, Dr Mpho Phalatse and her team for their excellent work in ensuring we improve access to quality health care in our City.
We will continue working diligently to ensure that no resident is denied access to quality health care and social services