Gqeberha, Eastern Cape
In a determined push to strengthen clinical services and reduce critical staffing shortages, the Eastern Cape Department of Health has allocated R141 million to recruit more pharmacists, doctors, nursing managers, and specialist practitioners across regional and tertiary hospitals in the province.
Department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo confirmed that the funds are being rolled out across all major hospitals in the region to address long-standing gaps in clinical personnel. “The money has been approved for all regional and tertiary hospitals across the province,” he said, noting that the recruitment process is well underway, with interviews already conducted in some facilities.
Livingstone Hospital in Gqeberha is among those prioritized for additional staffing, set to receive six nursing managers along with pharmacists and specialists. The initiative follows a recent placement of 247 community service nurses and 55 medical officers, many of whom were deployed to rural hospitals to ease healthcare burdens in under-served areas.
Kupelo emphasized the province’s commitment to retaining skilled professionals through developmental opportunities. “We continue with our retainment strategy by offering our doctors registrar programme training opportunities to become specialists, and nurses are offered bridging courses to advance their scopes,” he said.
He added that Health MEC Ntandokazi Capa is on track to improve health services across the province, and that this staffing intervention is just one of many strategic efforts underway. “This announcement and many other interventions show her determination to strengthen our health system and ensure better service delivery to our people,” said Kupelo.
In parallel with staffing improvements, the department has also allocated R2 billion this financial year for the procurement of medicines for the province’s 92 hospitals and more than 700 clinics. “We participate in a national tender to buy medicine from various pharmaceutical companies. We have two main medical depots in Gqeberha and Mthatha that are responsible for distribution to all health facilities,” Kupelo explained.
To ensure timely delivery and proper storage of medicines, the department employs a decentralized support model. “Sub-districts have pharmacists that are assigned to support clinics,” he added. “We also have pharmacists stationed at receiving hospitals to manage storage and distribution.”
Another R2 billion is being invested in health infrastructure upgrades. Among the key projects:
- Zithulele Hospital in Mqanduli – under construction with a R1.2 billion investment from the National Department of Health.
- Bambisana Hospital near Lusikisiki – underway at a cost of R800 million.
- Greenville Hospital in Mbizana – first phase launched at R169 million, with a total projected cost of R500 million.
- Libode Mental Health Unit at St Barnabas Hospital – nearing completion at a cost of R130 million.
Kupelo noted that the department receives ongoing public feedback. “Each facility has a complaints and suggestions box. We see over 1.6 million patients every month, and the majority provide satisfaction and happiness about our service—of course, we do get complaints,” he said.
With a combination of expanded staffing, reliable medicine supply, upgraded infrastructure, and leadership from MEC Capa, the Eastern Cape Department of Health says it is taking concrete steps to build a stronger and more equitable public health system.
