The Gauteng health system is failing to keep up with its growing population.
The system is plagued with diseases and has to operate within serious financial constraints.
As part of interventions, the MEC says the department will be equipping regional hospitals with diagnostic equipment to better manage treatment to increased numbers of cancer patients.
The department says it wants more people to utilise its primary healthcare facilities, to ease pressure on secondary healthcare like hospitals.
During her visit at the Sangweni Clinic in Tembisa, Gauteng Health MEC Dr Gwen Ramokgopa highlighted some improvements; but stressed that the provincial healthcare system still faces major challenges.
Recently, staff at the Charlotte Maxeke hospital went on a rampage following the non-payment of bonuses.
Although the department assured us that the issue is resolved, employees say they are still faced with staff shortages and battle to make do with the limited facilities.
Patients at the Sangweni clinic were less disillusioned.
But Ramokgopa admits that Tembisa is still plagued by high patient volumes and a lack of facilities, with millions having access to just one 24-hour clinic and one hospital.
The department has announced the intention to convert more clinics into 24-hour centres and build an additional hospital.
Registrar posts are also set to be prioritised in order to increase the amount of specialist doctors in the province.
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