Partnerships are key for bringing affordable, accessible primary healthcare closer to home in South Africa’s underserved communities and rural areas.
According to a Commission for Gender Equality report, certain provinces struggle to provide quality healthcare services for women, with the Eastern Cape province notably grappling with elevated rates of maternal and neonatal mortality. This is due to various factors like poor infrastructure, employee shortages and challenges in accessing healthcare facilities, especially in rural areas.
This was evident at the Unjani Clinic in Sterkspruit, where the absence of an ultrasound machine was putting mothers and their unborn babies at risk.
As part of its mission to address maternal health challenges in South Africa, Bestmed Medical Scheme donated an ultrasound machine to the clinic. The machine has already helped transform maternal health services in Sterkspruit. “The ultrasound machine has enabled us to detect abnormalities early in pregnancies, leading to safer births and healthier babies,” says Sister Nandipha Nyelimane, a nurse at the Unjani Clinic in Sterkspruit.
Uplifting healthcare in South Africa
Through partnerships with clinics in underserved communities, the health insurance sector can make an impact on the level of healthcare enjoyed by all South Africans.
This starts with identifying the barriers to access. In addition to maternal health challenges, Bestmed identified power instability as another major barrier to healthcare in rural regions.
The continued interruptions of electricity supply across the country disrupts essential services, including healthcare delivery. Power outages put more strain on already stretched facilities, affecting everything from medication storage to patient care. Kopanong is no exception. Like many communities, it has faced recurring interruptions that compromise the consistency and quality of healthcare services.
To help address this challenge, Bestmed donated a solar power unit to the local Unjani Clinic. It has ensured uninterrupted patient care. “It’s not just about keeping the lights on,” explains Sister Poppy Vilakazi of Unjani Clinic. “We’ve reduced operational stress and focused more on patient care without worrying about electricity bills or outages.”
Partnerships are key
Bestmed’s ongoing partnership with non-profit organisation Unjani Clinic shows the importance of collaboration when it comes to assisting underserved communities. Partnering with community clinics provides valuable insight into the community’s needs, and ensures the services will reach those who need them most.
Bestmed has previously donated two Health Pods – one in 2022 and one in 2023 – which serve over 3 600 patients in George and parts of the Western Cape’s Garden Route, and the community between Dewetsdorp and Wepener in the Free State, respectively.
The George Health Pod treated over 2 860 patients in 2024, including residents of Thembalethu and surrounding industrial areas, offering a vital lifeline in a township with over 44 000 residents and just two public clinics. The Dewetsdorp Health Pod, currently based in Van Stadenrus, served over 760 patients during 2024, reducing travel times and lowering healthcare costs for rural families.
“While the numbers are impressive, the true impact lies in the stories of lives improved,” says Madelein O’Connell, Executive: Marketing, Sales and Corporate Relations at Bestmed Medical Scheme. “In overcrowded or remote areas, Health Pods are more than facilities – they are lifelines.”
In fact, residents in George and surrounds have seen significant improvements across multiple services, with female reproductive treatments, including pap smears and family planning, topping the list of most utilised treatments. The pod’s role in fostering health awareness throughout the community, through TB screenings, as well as Mom and Baby expos, also earned the clinic a nomination for ‘Best Healthcare Facility’ – a testament to the partnership’s tangible results.
In the Dewetsdorp area, the introduction of a local Health Pod has reduced clinic operation costs and improved access to healthcare for many who previously had to travel long distances for basic services.
“Health Pods are transforming how and where we deliver care – one township, one rural area and one clinic at a time,” says Lynda Toussaint: CEO at Unjani Clinic. “Through local empowerment and early intervention, we’re not just improving health outcomes, we are impacting lives.”