The number of people visiting Gauteng hospitals has grown phenomenally in the last three months indicating an increasing pressure faced by the health facilities because of the burden of disease.
The number of people who were attended to at the outpatient departments of central hospitals grew to more than 2,6 million (2 671 465) between January and April this year. This is an increase of more than 600 000 when compared to the 2 038 million (2 038 600) recorded in the three months period between October and December 2012. There are only four central hospitals namely Steve Biko, Dr George Mukhari, Charlotte Maxeke and Chris Hani Baragwanath.
The number of people seen at district and regional hospitals also indicated similar pattern of increasing demand with 762 968 patients attended to at outpatient department of district in last quarter and 1 895 496 seen at regional hospitals. In the preceding quarter, district hospitals had seen 577 202 patients while regional hospitals saw 1 441 461 patients.
This increase in patient loads is placing unbearable pressure on staff, infrastructure, budgets and equipment at all facilities, the MEC for Health, Hope Papo said. “We call on our people to make use of clinics for minor ailments and to collect chronic medication to ease pressure on our hospitals,” he said.
The province has more than 300 clinics and 32 community health centre offering primary health care to patients. All community health centres offer maternity services and 26 of them operate on 24 hour basis. All community health centres and clinics now provide services for patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, epilepsy TB and those on ARV treatment.
District Clinical Specialist Teams, comprising of obstetricians, gynaecologist, midwives, and professional nurses, have been established work closely with regional and tertiary Hospitals to improve referrals from clinics and communities.
The contributing factor behind the astronomical increase in patients at central hospitals is that these hospitals service patients referred by other provinces such as Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the North West. In addition countries such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Swaziland also refer their critically patients to these facilities.
The province is facing a quadruple burden of disease that includes, HIV and AIDS, TB, chronic disease of lifestyle, as well as trauma and violence.
Demand for orthopaedic operations to repair broken limbs is now exceeds all surgical operations conducted in the province as a result of trauma cause by interpersonal violence and motor vehicle accidents. More than 10 000 orthopaedic operations are conducted in the province every year.
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Simon Zwane
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