South Africa: Steve Biko Hospital is a blueprint for NHI's future
President Ramaphosa on his oversight visit to the Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) facility housed at the hospital in Pretoria on Tuesday, 24 June 2025.
The president described the hospital as a shining example of what quality public healthcare should look like.
He said this during his oversight visit to the Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) facility housed at the hospital in Pretoria on Tuesday, 24 June 2025.
He was accompanied by ministers and deputy ministers, including the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi and Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.
The president is 'very impressed'
He highlighted how Motsoaledi had told him that private hospitals are often referring patients to this public hospital.
'It shows that this public hospital is a model for all the good things, and this is the future of what the National Health Insurance (NHI) is all about, because they would not be coming here if Steve Biko Academic hospital was not as good as it is.
'I leave this place very impressed. When I went to some of the areas, I just saw (a) world-class type of facility that has been built, and even as one goes around the world, I don't remember seeing many of such, and I'm usually impressed by technology most of the time. And when we say that we have the best on the continent and possibly in the world, this is what we have seen here,' the president said.
The Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) facility is the only one of its kind on the continent, dedicated to cancer and TB drug development, advanced imaging, and clinical research.
It reflects a successful collaboration between the Department of Health, Department of Science and Innovation, the University of Pretoria, and private sector partners.
Walking through the hospital's departments, including the cardiac catheterisation laboratory and radiology units, Ramaphosa commended the level of professionalism and excellence.
He praised the diversity and competence of the staff, from cleaners to researchers as well as the facility's cutting-edge equipment and cleanliness.
'I have seen the future of the NHI. It is here. And, more importantly, as I've been going around talking to the doctors, scientists, and nurses, they are the ones saying to me: 'we are ready for NHI.' Those campaigning against it need to come here and see how it's going to work,' the president said.
Inclusivity in action
He also took time to applaud the high representation of women and young professionals in senior and technical roles at the hospital, calling it a powerful example of inclusivity and transformation in action.
'Women run this facility. They are researchers, professors, doctors, and nurses – delivering top-class healthcare. And I saw so many young people here; the future of our country,' he said.
The president also singled out Professor Mike Sathekge, who heads the Nuclear Medicine Unit, for his outstanding leadership and global recognition.
'Let's give Professor Sathekge a round of applause for being recognised globally as well. It isn't often that you meet a guy who is Black, who is from Limpopo, who is recognised in the way that he is,' the president said.
Homegrown innovation
He expressed admiration for the hospital's homegrown innovation, highlighting the cardiology department, which has developed sophisticated medical equipment showcasing South Africa's engineering and scientific capabilities.
He also lavished praise on Professor Andrew Sarkin, who is an academic and clinical head at the University of Pretoria and the hospital.
'The diversity of the talent that we have from various parts of our country makes this facility, this hospital, what it is.
'I also applaud Professor Sarkin and his staff for the excellent work that they do. In here resides the talent, the engineering knowledge, and capability to be able to produce some of the best technologies that the medical world has ever seen. I really applaud the cardiology department,' he said.
The president further praised the hospital's cleanliness and organisation, crediting management and support staff for upholding high standards.
He called for the Steve Biko Academic Hospital model to be replicated across the country.
'This is how a hospital should be run. This is how a hospital should be managed. And this is what the NHI must look like,' he said.
The president's visit to Steve Biko Academic Hospital served not only to showcase a leading healthcare institution but also to reaffirm the government's commitment to building a future where all South Africans have access to high-quality public healthcare.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Exclusion, endurance, and the fight for inclusion
Marlene Le Roux has lived with the effects of disability since she was three months old. Now 57, she has spent decades confronting physical, structural, and social barriers. Resilience is part of her everyday reality, as she manages pain, stays engaged, and keeps going even when her body resists. Ms Le Roux had spent the day before speaking and dancing to mark South Africa's Freedom Day in Cape Town. By morning, her legs gave in. She was at the physio, acupuncture needles in her thigh to ease the pain. That pain, she says, is part of the "gift"– a lived experience that gave her the lens to understand the marginalization millions face every day. 'I have a job, that's why I could pay for treatment," she said. "Others with polio? They suffer. They die in their beds.' Her story begins with polio and builds into a fight fueled by loss, sustained by purpose, and anchored in a refusal to accept exclusion. She's lived the weight of exclusion twice over. First, as a child disabled by apartheid-era neglect, contracting polio at just three months old, after clinics denied the remaining vaccines to non-white children. And later, as a mother to her son Adam, who had profound cerebral palsy and required constant care. Adam later passed away, a loss that deepened her resolve. That urgency is also reflected in efforts across the United Nations system. In 2019, the UN launched the Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) to promote accessibility, participation, and accountability in its operations. By 2023, more than 60 UN entities had adopted action plans under the strategy, and over $77 million had been mobilized to support more than 100 initiatives in 93 countries. Yet implementation remains uneven, with many persons with disabilities still facing barriers even within institutions that champion inclusion. At the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town, where Ms Le Roux is the CEO, accessibility is built into the structure: automated doors, wheelchair seating, level entryways, tactile carpeting, comfort rooms. Staff receive training on both visible and non-apparent disabilities. Every feature is intentional, designed in consultation with those who use them. 'Life here at Artscape is very easy for people with disabilities,' said vocalist Nikita Scott, a wheelchair user. 'It feels like a second home. You just feel freer because there are no challenges you have to face as a disabled person.' Families raising children with disabilities find refuge at Artscape. 'They can attend performances and relax in a space that doesn't treat them as an afterthought,' Ms Le Roux said. 'Here, no one stares.' Artscape also supports grassroots groups, including Lief en Leed (Love and Sorrow), a community initiative in Mamre. Its founder, Michael September, who has speech and mobility impairments, said people still assume disability means incapacity. 'Artscape is one of the few places that sees our dignity first,' he said. Ms Le Roux's leadership style is grounded in presence and humility. It's not uncommon to see her joking with staff or sitting down for tea with the cleaning crew. 'No one should be invisible,' she said. 'Everyone here matters.' She helped launch the ArtsAbility Festival, an annual celebration that features performers with disabilities and challenges public perceptions through art and movement. The Unmute Dance Company, a regular participant, blends wheelchairs, crutches, and movement to challenge perceptions. 'Artscape focuses on what people can do, not what they lack,' she said. 'When they perform, you see ability. Not disability.' She sees these lessons as central to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially the pledge to 'leave no one behind.' 'We can't just have things on paper and expect it to work. It has to be in the fiscal budget, in the mindset, in the leadership.' To her, inclusion isn't a checklist but a cultural shift. She meets regularly with an advisory group of people with disabilities to keep the work grounded in lived experience. In 2024, she launched Warrior Woman, a petition and art installation to protest gender-based violence. She plans an annual march to parliament with the statue in hand. 'We've had enough of talking,' she said. 'Artscape is more than a theatre,' she said, adding that it's a platform to open doors and influence lives. 'I can look glamorous now because I have a job. I can pay for treatment; I can walk into the best orthopaedic surgeon. But what happens to others? They suffer. They die. My job is to open doors for them.' And she'll keep pressing forward, legs willing or not, until systems do too. Ms Le Roux's full interview can be watched in this episode of our Sustainable Africa Series Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
Committee on Health Welcomes Findings of Health Ombud
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, notes and welcomes the report issued by the Health Ombudsman into the treatment and deaths of psychiatric patients at two Northern Cape hospitals. Dr Dhlomo said, the report tabled on Wednesday by the Health Ombud, Dr Taole Mokoena is concerning and disturbing as it reveals a deep lack of care at Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital, and Robert Sobukwe Hospital. 'The findings of the report are unacceptable, they exposed patients did not receive the quality care that they duly deserve,' said Dr Dhlomo. Mental healthcare is of paramount importance and must always remain under public scrutiny, especially in the light of the tragic event at Life Esidimeni, stated Dr Dhlomo. The report highlights the necessity of ensuring that mental health should always be placed under the microscope as it affects vulnerable people. The committee commends the proactive steps initiated by the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi who lodged a complaint to the Health Ombud. 'This demonstrates a commitment of accountability by the Minister and the department to uncover challenges within psychiatric hospitals and the healthcare system,' added Dr Dhlomo. In ensuring that the committee provides adequate oversight, the committee will schedule a meeting and invite the Department of Health so that Members of the committee receive a comprehensive briefing. 'The transformation of mental health needs to be safeguarded so that patients are treated with dignity,' emphasised Dr Dhlomo Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
African startups take on medicine access gaps with smarter supply chains
A healthcare-focused panel discussion at this year's Sapics Conference in Cape Town spotlighted Africa's emergence as a creator of health supply chain innovations with global potential. The session brought together African entrepreneurs who are working to improve access to medicine, patient safety, and supply chain systems. It was moderated by Stella Kivila, Director of Healthtech Strategy & Impact at Salient Advisory, a firm tracking over 1,000 healthtech start-ups across Africa. 'We are seeing a new generation of African entrepreneurs tackling one of the continent's most pressing problems: fragmented and inefficient medicine supply chains,' said Kivila. The cost of fragmentation Public healthcare distribution systems across Africa are often overburdened, with many consumers relying on fragmented private supply chains. According to Kivila, this can add as much as 60% to the final price of medicines. "Patients are left with little guarantee of quality or availability, and there is a significant risk of counterfeit and substandard products entering the system," she said. Two start-ups – Dawa Mkononi from Tanzania and Meditect from Côte d'Ivoire – shared how they are using technology, data and new models to improve healthcare delivery. Dawa Mkononi: "Medicine in the palm of your hand" Dr Joseph Paul, a medical doctor and software engineer, founded Dawa Mkononi after a pivotal experience in a rural Tanzanian village. "While assisting a mother during childbirth, the essential drug needed to accelerate labour was unavailable. Six hours later, the family returned with a medicine that sadly proved ineffective. It was likely a counterfeit." Paul developed a digital platform and distribution system to deliver safe, verified medicines to pharmacies, clinics and hospitals, supported by inventory management and demand forecasting. In urban areas, delivery takes a few hours. The platform also offers credit financing. "Our mission is to make medicine accessible, affordable and safe, through data-driven supply chains," Paul said. The company has reached over 1,000 pharmacies, served more than 500,000 patients, and facilitated over $1m in credit. It is currently growing fourfold annually. Meditect: Restoring trust in medicines For Dr Arnaud Pourredon, founder of Meditect, the turning point also came from a moment in clinical care. 'I couldn't buy malaria treatment for a three-year-old child. That's when I knew we had to fix the system,' he said. Meditect provides digital tools that support drug traceability, supply chain visibility and pharmacy management, with a focus on Francophone Africa. "By improving access to quality medicine and enhancing transparency, we can increase life expectancy in Africa by 10 years," Pourredon said. The platform supports thousands of healthcare professionals and aims to help leapfrog infrastructure gaps using technology. i3: A new model for supporting innovators Both Dawa Mkononi and Meditect are part of the Investing in Innovation (i3) programme, launched in 2022 to connect African health supply chain innovators with donors, governments and the private sector. The initiative has provided $3m in grant funding to 60 start-ups in 18 countries. Rather than acting as a traditional accelerator, i3 offers tailored support and market access, backed by partners including the Gates Foundation, MSD, Cencora, Endless Foundation, HELP Logistics, and Sanofi's Global Health Unit. "Africa doesn't lack ingenuity. It lacks systems to support and scale it," said Kivila. "That's what we're fixing with i3." Locally led systems for Africa and beyond The panel was part of the 47th annual Sapics Conference, attended by more than 700 supply chain professionals from across Africa and the world. As Kivila concluded: "Africa's healthcare future does not have to be imported. It is being built here – by Africans, for Africans, and increasingly, for the world." All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
