Top 10 Best Hospitals In South Africa For Both Citizens and Visitors
 Best International Hospitals for Expatriates Around the World by Country |
 |
| The Best Hospitals In South Africa For Citizens and Visitors. Photo: KnowInsiders.com |
| Contents |
How many hospitals are there in South Africa?
There are over 600 hospitals in South Africa, about 400 of which are public and 200 of which are private. For many expats, private healthcare may be the best way to ensure they receive the kind of care they want.
Most South African facilities, whether public or private, are general hospitals. However, there are hospitals and clinics with specific focus on orthopedics, psychiatry, cardiology, and gynecology. Although they provide a wide range of services and therapies, hospitals frequently provide the following:
Emergency treatment
Specialist consultancy and examinations
Maternity services
Psychiatric and mental health services
Surgery and follow-up treatment
Outpatient services
Although public and private hospitals in South Africa might have quite different levels of excellence, both generally provide the same range of services. The waiting periods are one of the most significant distinctions, though. In South African state hospitals, waiting lists for some non-urgent procedures can be quite extensive. In most cases, you can receive treatment considerably more rapidly if you go to a private hospital.
READ MORE: Best International Hospitals for Expatriates Around the World by Country
What Is the Largest Hospital in South Africa?
The third-largest hospital in the world is located in Johannesburg. Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital is the biggest hospital in South Africa and on the African continent. The hospital employs 6,760 people and has 3,400 beds.
The facility is financed by the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health. Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital is notable despite being a public hospital because it acts as a teaching hospital for the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School.
What is the name of South Africa’s oldest hospital?Somerset County Hospital |
Do you pay at South African public hospitals?Everyone has the right to free primary health care at government institutions. This means that clinics are open to everyone; all women have the right to a free abortion at government-run facilities. |
How many physicians are there in South Africa?According to the best estimates, the country has 17,802 general practitioners and 9,630 specialists, for a total of 27,432 doctors. |
How to access hospital treatment in South Africa
 |
| Photo Getty |
South Africa has public hospitals that can be used by both locals and tourists. But for routine treatment, you usually need a referral from a doctor.
To get care at a private hospital, you either need private health insurance or to pay for the care up front. Most of the time, you don't need a referral from your doctor to see a specialist at a private hospital. Most appointments at hospitals in South Africa are made over the phone, but some private providers have online booking systems.
READ MORE: Top 10 Best Hospitals 2023 In Arizona By Healthgrades and U.S News
Emergency treatment in South Africa
In South Africa, the majority of hospitals have emergency treatment units that you can attend without an appointment if you have an injury or a health condition that requires immediate care. This includes, for instance, shattering a bone or experiencing acute or severe pain in any part of the body.
Everybody in South Africa, including tourists, has access to emergency care in public hospitals. Yet, if you do not have medical insurance, you may be responsible for up to sixty percent of the entire costs. If you have adequate health insurance or are ready to pay for treatments out of yourself, you can seek emergency care in a private hospital.
List of emergency numbers in South AfricaThe nationwide number for an ambulance in an emergency in South Africa is 10177. You can also call 112 from any mobile phone to get put through to emergency services. Some of the main private health insurance providers in South Africa (such as Netcare and ER24) have their own medical emergency numbers. However, you must pay ambulance fees if you don’t have insurance coverage and these fees have increased rapidly in recent years. |
Top 10 Best Hospitals 2023 In South Africa For Citizens and Visitors
1. Mediclinic Plettenberg Bay
Address: Muller St, Plettenberg Bay, 6600
Phone: +27 44 501 5100
Website: mediclinic.co.za
Mediclinic Plettenberg Bay is a private hospital in the South African town of Plettenberg Bay. The hospital, which began as a care unit for retirement villages, was opened in 2006 by Mediclinic and is the only private hospital in Plettenberg Bay. Although Mediclinic Plettenberg Bay is one of the group's smallest hospitals, it adheres to the same layout, flow, and standards as all other state-of-the-art facilities throughout the country and in Namibia.
2. Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre, Durban
 |
| Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre |
Address: Riverhorse Valley Business Est, Cnr Riverhorse & Queen Nandi Drive, Newlands East, 4037
Phone: +27 31 581 2400
Website: ehhc.co.za
A cutting-edge, digitally integrated hospital located north of Durban. It is the only hospital in KwaZulu Natal that provides critical Paediatric Cardiac Surgery services. For five years in a row, the hospital has been named one of South Africa's top 20 hospitals.
3. Busamed Hillcrest Private Hospital, Hillcrest
Address: 471 Kassier Rd, Assagay, Outer West Durban, 3610
Phone: +27 31 768 8000
Website: busamed.co.za
Busamed Hillcrest Private Hospital is part of a South African private hospital group that provides cost-effective and innovative healthcare services in a welcoming, caring, and secure environment.
To name a few, it specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, ENT, Gastroenterology, Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Maxillofacial Surgery, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Oncology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, Paediatric Cardiology, Paediatrics, and Plastic Surgery.
4. Life Bayview Private Hospital, Mossel Bay
Address: Ryk Tulbach St, Da Nova, Mossel Bay, 6506
Phone: +27 44 691 3718
Website: lifehealthcare.co.za
Life Bayview Private Hospital is a luxurious facility that provides patients with cost-effective, international-standard healthcare services as well as personalized care.
It provides 14 medical services, including cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, ENT, endovascular surgery, gastroenterology, general surgery, obstetrics, neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery, paediatrics, and more.
It has cutting-edge diagnostic and monitoring technology.
5. Life Rosepark Hospital, Bloemfontein
Address: Fichardt Park, Bloemfontein, 9301
Phone: +27 51 505 5111
Website: lifehealthcare.co.za
Life Rosepark Hospital is part of the Life Healthcare group of hospitals, which is committed to providing quality care and world-class facilities to patients.
To name a few, the hospital has more than 20 specialized medical and surgical departments, including Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, ENT, Endoscopic Surgery, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, General Surgery, Gastroenterology, Maxillofacial surgery, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Oncology & Clinical Radiation, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Paediatric Surgery, Reconstructive & Plastic Surgery, and Urology.
It is outfitted with modern and sophisticated facilities, as well as the most recent diagnostic and monitoring technologies, which reflect the high quality and care that it provides.
6. Busamed Paardevlei Private Hospital, Cape Town
 |
Address: Paardevlei Estate, 4 Gardner Williams Ave, Paardevlei, Cape Town
Phone: +27 21 840 6600
Website: busamed.co.za
Busamed Paardevlei Private Hospital, which opened on May 1, 2015, is part of the award-winning Busamed private hospital group, which provides cost-effective, high-quality, and innovative healthcare services in South Africa. Cardiology, Cardiovascular Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Gynaecology, Oncology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Rheumatology, and Urology are among its 11 specialties.
The hospital invests in cutting-edge technology; in fact, surgeons used the NAVIO Surgical System to perform the first NAVIO Total Knee Replacement in South Africa.
7. Mediclinic Louis Leipoldt, Cape Town
Address: Mediclinic Louis Leipoldt, Cape Town
Phone: +27 21 957 6000
Website: mediclinic.co.za
Mediclinic Louis Leipoldt is one of the best and oldest private hospitals in the Western Cape, having been in operation for over 30 years.
The Hospital is well-known for its surgical and obstetrical expertise.
Of course, it has a wide range of medical and surgical departments, including ENT, Gynaecology, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Orthopaedics, Oncology, Paediatrics, Paediatric Cardiology, Paediatric Surgery, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Maxillofacial Surgery, Neurosurgery, and many others.
8. Mediclinic Panorama, Cape Town
Address: Rothschild Blvd, Panorama, Cape Town
Phone: +27 21 938 2111
Website: mediclinic.co.za
Mediclinic Panorama is an acute care hospital that opened in August 1986 and serves the Cape Town Metropole and its surrounding areas. It is a multidisciplinary hospital that also serves as a referral center for both domestic and international patients from as far away as Namibia.
It was the first hospital built by Medilinic Southern Africa, a private hospital group that adds value to patients by providing safe, high-quality care in a welcoming setting.
9. Busamed Gateway Private Hospital, Umhlanga
Address: 36-38 Aurora Dr, Umhlanga Rocks, Umhlanga
Phone: +27 31 492 1130
Website: busamed.co.za
Busamed Gateway Private Hospital is an award-winning African-owned hospital dedicated to providing high-quality, cost-effective healthcare services using cutting-edge technology and clinical standards.
It is the only surgical and cardiac hospital in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and has established itself as the preferred hospital for these two specialties throughout South Africa.
The Hospital is an accredited heart and lung transplant hospital of KZN. In 2017, the Hospital successfully performed the seventh double heart and lung transplant.
10. Lenmed Shifa Hospital, Durban
Address: Lenmed Shifa Hospital, Durban
Phone: +27 87 087 0641
Website: lenmed.co.za
Lenmed Shifa Hospital is part of the Lenmed Group, which has been providing healthcare services in South Africa, Botswana, and Mozambique since 1984.
Nephrology, Gastroenterology, Opthalmology, General Surgery, Emergency Medicine, and Obstetrics are all available at the hospital. Lenmed Hospitals, named one of South Africa's Top 20 Hospitals by Discovery Health, provides modern and innovative technologies, dedicated and caring staff, and facilities to maximize patients' healing journeys.
More: Best Clinics and Hospitals in South Africa for Expats
Hospitals in Gauteng
Of course, many of the country’s best healthcare options are located in Johannesburg. However, you are not limited to just Johannesburg for quality hospitals within the Gauteng province.
Akasia Clinic
Cnr. Heinrich Ave & Brits Road Karen Park Ext 25
Tel: + 27 12 549 1023
Fax: + 27 12 549 1032
Argyle Clinc
Cnr. De Korte & Hospital Hill Braamfontein
Johannesburg 2044 Gauteng
Tel: + 27 11 720 5656
Fax: + 27 11 720 7075
Bagleyston Day Clinic
400 Louis Botha Avenue
Highlands North Johannesburg
Tel: + 27 11 640 3000
Fax: + 27 11 640 1021
Curomed Medi-Clinic
177 Du Toitspan Road
Kimberley 8301 South Africa
Tel: + 27 53 838 1111
Fax: + 27 53 838 1299
Bedford Gardens Hospital
7 Leicester Road
Bedford gardens Bedfordview 2008 Gauteng
Tel: + 27 11 622 8404
Fax: + 27 11 622 2494
Benoni Day Clinic
2nd Floor
CJS Centre
Cnr. Woburn Avenue/Tom Jones Street
Birchmed Surgical Centre
8 Tiger Street
Birchleigh 1610
Tel: + 27 11 391 3300
Fax: + 27 11 391 1091
Constantia Clinic
374 Ontdekkers Road Florida Park
Tel: + 27 11 472 1478
Fax: + 27 11 472 2968
Faerie Glen Hospital Cnr. Atterbury & Oberon Avenue
Faerie Glen 0043 Gauteng
Tel: + 27 12 348 8811
Fax: + 27 12 361 8991
Femina Clinic
460 Belvedere Street Arcadia
Tel: + 27 12 328 3838
Fax: + 27 12 326 2714
Linksfield Park Clinic 24
12th Avenue Orange Grove
Johannesburg Gauteng
Tel: + 27 11 640 7555
Fax: +27 11 640 5314
Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital 2 Bunting Road
Auckland Park
Tel: + 27 11 489 1111
Fax: + 27 11 489 1190
New Kensington Clinic 23 Roberts Avenue Kensington
Tel: + 27 11 614 7125
Fax: + 27 11 614 3037
Rosebank Clinic
14 Sturdee Avenue Rosebank Johannesburg
Tel: + 27 11 788 1980
Fax: + 27 11 447 7351
Sunward Park Hospital
Cnr. Kingfisher Avenue, Aquarius Road & Bert Lacey Drive
Tel: + 27 11 913 2050
Fax: + 27 11 897 1607
Hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal
Durban Oncology Centre
99 Jan Smuts Highway
Tel: + 27 31 261 8221
Fax:+ 27 31 261 8156/207 3763
Empangeni Garden Clinic
Biyela & Ukula Streets
Tel: + 27 35 772 7716/792 6211
Fax:+ 27 35 792 1240
Parklands Hospital
Hopelands Road Durban
Tel: + 27 31 208 8181
Fax: + 27 31 207 3369
Hospitals in Western Cape
With Capetown, Western Cape is second to Gauteng in the number of hospitals that are recommended for foreignersBrakenfell Sameday Surgical Centre
Jeanette Street
Tel: + 27 21 981 4547
Fax: + 27 21 982 0439
Cape Anaesthetic Clinic
421 Medical Centre Foreshore 8001 Western Cape
Tel: + 27 21 425 2900
Fax: + 27 21 419 0246
Jan S Marais Hospital
10 Blanckenberg Street Bellville 7530
Tel: + 27 21 948 8131
Fax: + 27 21 946 4030
Lamprecht Clinic
Cnr. Gloucester & York Street George 6529
Tel: + 27 44 874 6770
Fax: + 27 44 874 0932
Vincent Pallotti Hospital Alexandra Road Pinelands
Capetown 7405 Western Cape
Tel: + 27 21 506 5111
Fax: + 27 21 531 116
West Coast Private Hospital 22 Voortrekker Road Vredenburg 7380
Tel: + 27 22 719 1030
Fax: + 27 22 719 1037
Hospitals in Eastern Cape
Greenacres Hospital
Cnr. Rochelle and Cape Roads Port Elizabeth
Tel: + 27 41 363 1515
Fax: + 27 41 363 2274
Grey Monument Private Clinic Behind Provincial Hospital
Lonsdale Road
King William’ Town 5600 Eastern Cape
Tel: + 27 43 643 3522
Fax: + 27 43 643 3569
Oasim Private Hospital Ground Floor
Oasim North
Havelock Street
Tel: + 27 41 585 6537
Fax: + 27 41 586 3574
Hospital Costs in South Africa
Approximately 40% of the cost of treatment in a state hospital in South Africa is subsidized by the government. The remaining costs are borne by the patient, but the exact amount depends on his or her income and family situation. A hospital consultation with a physician typically costs between R13 and R55, although treatments and tests may increase this cost. For unemployed patients, hospital stays start at approximately R7 per night for up to 30 nights. Hospital stays for those with a higher income can cost up to R980 per night.
According to OECD data, private facility costs in South Africa are roughly comparable to those in other OECD countries. On the Mediclinic website, you can view a list of current fees as an example of what you are likely to pay.
The majority of private hospitals in South Africa require payment in advance for services, after which you can submit receipts or invoices to your insurance company for reimbursement. This means that if you have private insurance, you may be out of pocket for several weeks. Some insurers will agree to cover the upfront cost of expensive surgical procedures if they are informed in advance.
Typically, state hospitals also charge at the point of service. However, you are only required to pay the portion of the bill for which you are responsible.
Health insurance for hospital costs in South AfricaBy 2026, South Africa intends to implement a National Health Insurance (NHI) system. This will be comparable to the National Health Service in the United Kingdom, in which funds are pooled to provide free healthcare to all citizens. Unless they have private health insurance, patients in South Africa pay up to 60% of public hospital costs at present. There are numerous national and international providers of private health insurance in South Africa. They provide various plans that cover both public and private facilities. Coverage varies by plan, but many insurers offer premium packages that cover 100 percent of the majority of costs. Nevertheless, you are typically required to pay hospital fees in advance and then submit invoices to your insurer for reimbursement. |
Conclusion
One of the richest countries in Africa, South Africa, has a robust healthcare system. We at KnowInsiders.com hope that the list above has given you a thorough understanding of the best hospitals in South Africa.
Our guide on South Africa's healthcare system will give you all the information you need to be well-informed and safe when traveling there, should you be thinking about taking a trip there.
 Top 10 Best Hospitals In Massachusetts 2023 By Healthgrades & U.S. News US News and Healthgrades evaluated hospitals in Massachusetts. KnowInsiders.com have summed up the rankings top have the final top 10 best hospitals in this ... |
 Top 10 Best Hospitals In Tennessee 2023 By Healthgrades and U.S News Tennessee has faced a series of hospital closures over the past years. This article will help you find the best quality hospitals in the state ... |
 Top 10 Best Hospitals In Missouri 2023 By Healthgrades and U.S News US News and Healthgrades ranked the best hospitals in Missouri. KnowInsiders have summed up and listed 10 best ones. Check it out! |
