Medical Facilities
Medical facilities in South Africa are of a high standard, particularly in private hospitals and clinics, as well as some of the large state hospitals in urban areas. There are many private hospitals and clinics around the country mainly in the urban centres.
There are a number of privately-operated emergency medical services with highly trained staff, who supplement the Provincial emergency services. These private emergency services attend to roadside and other emergencies, transporting patients in well-equipped ambulances and emergency vehicles to the nearest appropriate hospital.
The high standard of doctor training in South Africa is well-known. South Africa’s urban areas are well supplied with general and specialist practitioners, all registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. The country has many other medical professionals such as dentists, physiotherapists, psychologists, biokineticists, podiatrists, as well as alternative healing practitioners such as homeopaths, acupuncturists and reflexologists. It is important to know that medical facilities in South Africa’s rural areas are less sophisticated and can generally only deal with primary health care conditions.
There are many pharmacies in South Africa who stock an extensive range of over the counter medication as well as prescription schedule medication. South African pharmacists are however unable to dispense Schedule 3 drugs and up without a prescription, so tourists on chronic medication who expect they’ll run out during their stay, should come armed with the necessary doctor’s prescription or to refill there prescription before they arrive.
