Healthcare in Cape Town

Expats will find healthcare in Cape Town to be among the best on the African continent - arguably only rivalled by national neighbour Johannesburg. The city has a history of health research and innovation, and in 1967 the world's first heart transplant was performed in Groote Schuur Hospital, a public hospital still functioning today.

The Cape has maintained the spirit of medical excellence, but these days, private facilities have eclipsed public facilities in terms of service provision, staffing and the standard of equipment.

Expats will find plenty of options available in both sectors, but it's recommended foreigners follow the movement of the local middle and upper classes and utilise the private sector and the insurance that supports it.

Public healthcare in Cape Town

Considering that the majority of the population in South Africa had little or no access to healthcare until the 1990s, the healthcare system in Cape Town and the nation as a whole has made great strides to elevate its standards and serve the communities that need it most.

It follows that the public sector in Cape Town caters largely to the poorer communities, and thus lacks the creature comforts and privacy often associated with Western hospitals.

Furthermore, the sector is responsible for serving nearly 80% of the population, thus often finding itself under-funded, under-staffed, and under-resourced.

Though some of the doctors employed in the public system are among the best in the city, long queues and a depressing environment are more than enough to steer those in the middle and higher income brackets toward the private sector.

Private healthcare in Cape Town

Most expats moving to Cape Town will want to utilise private facilities. Though basic consultations with general practitioners are affordable (between R300 - R400), costs can quickly escalate if you find yourself with even the slightest complication.

For this reason, it's highly recommended expats take out private insurance. An assortment of local service providers offer different schemes; some completely comprehensive some merely providing hospital coverage in the case of emergency situations.

Discovery and Cape Medical Plan are among the most reputable local providers.

Private primary facilities, specialist clinics and full-scale hospitals abound in Cape Town and are easily accessed from nearly any location. Over the years this sector has taken over many of the tertiary and specialist procedures that formerly were found in the public sector.

These days, expats will find that top-notch procedures can be completed in Cape Town for an affordable price.

Most healthcare professionals in Cape Town are privately employed, and all will speak English. The best way to find a good doctor in Cape Town is via word-of-mouth. Consult other expats who've had experiences with healthcare in Cape Town, or inquire among local colleagues and friends.

Recommended hospitals in Cape Town

Cape Town Medi-clinic (Gardens)
www.mediclinic.co.za

Christiaan Barnard Hospital (CBD)
www.netcare.co.za

Life Vincent Palloti Hospital (Pinelands)
www.lifehealthcare.co.za

Alternative Medecine in Cape Town

Cape Town is the centre of South Africa's alternate healing cosmos. The monthly "Link-Up" magazine is the definitive guide to modern disciplines such as naturopathy, cranio-sacral therapy and reiki. Listing thousands of practitioners, events and classes, this free magazine can be found in all healthfood shops and many pharmacies.

The weekly Holistic Lifestyle Fair in the bohemian suburb of Observatory is a lively gathering point for alternative healers, crystal vendors and soothsayers. The international food on offer is excellent.