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The recent successful operation at the Mankweng Hospital in Limpopo, where a team of doctors and nurses separated conjoined twins, serves as powerful evidence of the world-class expertise locked away in South Africa’s public health system.
According to pres. Cyril Ramaphosa this achievement is a significant medical milestone and an urgent reminder of the necessity of the National Health Insurance (NHI) to ensure that such care is accessible to every citizen.
Performance that commands admiration
In his latest weekly newsletter, the president expressed his deep admiration for the team of doctors, nurses and other health professionals who performed the complex operation with extraordinary skill and precision. Ramaphosa says this is tangible proof of what the country’s public system can do when there is sustained investment in medical excellence.
“This achievement is more than a medical milestone. It is a reminder that South Africa has world-class medical expertise, not only in the private hospitals in our cities, but also in public facilities that serve communities that have historically been neglected and underserved,” said Ramaphosa.
Archive photo for illustration purposes only. (Photo: Unsplash)
Gap between rich, poor
Despite the success story at Mankweng, the president admits that there is still a massive gap between the Constitution’s promise of health care and the daily reality of millions of South Africans. He emphasizes that the right to quality care should not depend on an individual’s wallet or place of residence.
“Our Constitution guarantees every person the right to access healthcare services. That right cannot depend on where you were born, how much you earn or where you live. A child in the rural parts of Limpopo has the same right to quality healthcare as a child in the suburbs of Johannesburg or Cape Town.”
According to Ramaphosa, the NGV is the instrument that must tackle precisely this inequality. He describes it as more than just a funding mechanism, but rather as a commitment to constitutional values.
“The NGV is the instrument through which we will ensure that the skills and commitment demonstrated at Mankweng are available to all our people, regardless of their ability to pay. To realize this vision, we need genuine and sustainable partnerships between the public and private health sectors, as well as with academic institutions, medical professionals, pharmaceutical companies, non-governmental organizations and communities.”
Archive photo for illustration purposes only. (Photo: Unsplash)
Two systems, one nation
The president also said he was concerned about the imbalance in funding between the private and public sectors. While the private sector is extremely well equipped, it serves only about 16% of the population, while the remaining 84% rely on public facilities. The average expenditure per person in the private sector is currently about five times higher than in the public sector.
“These two parts of our health care system cannot continue to function in parallel as if they serve two separate nations. They must work together in the service of one nation. There are few people in South Africa who can disagree with this view and there are many players who are eager for collaboration. They recognize that there is a great need and many opportunities to build stronger partnerships in health care.”
Investment in future
Ramaphosa says the government is already strengthening the public infrastructure in preparation for the NGV by renovating clinics and hospitals, introducing digital systems and improving the management of facilities. He also emphasized the importance of supporting and retaining health workers so that they are not lost to the private sector or abroad.
He says that the medics at Mankweng did not work for reward, but out of a sense of duty.
“We owe it to every health worker to give them the support, tools and working conditions they need to do their essential work. The great achievement at Mankweng Hospital showed us what is possible. It also reminded us of what is needed: a health system that serves every South African with excellence, compassion and commitment.”