International Health Insurance
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Considering a visit or move to South Africa? Be sure to check out your local hospital options. See this listing by major city.
There are over 600 hospitals in South Africa, which can be broken down into approximately 400 public and 200 private ones. Many expatriates may find that private healthcare is the best way to ensure the standard of care they desire.
The world’s third-largest hospital is located in Johannesburg. Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital is not only the largest hospital in South Africa but the largest on the African continent. The hospital has 3,400 beds and is overseen by 6,760 staff members.
The Gauteng Provincial Department of Health finances the hospital. Although Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital is a public hospital, it is also a teaching hospital for the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School.
Thankfully, some hospitals can be recommended to expats in many parts of the country. We’ve included a list of hospitals that best cater to the needs of those living in South Africa who have come from abroad.
Many of South Africa’s top hospitals are located in Johannesburg and throughout the Gauteng province.
Akasia Clinic
Cnr Heinrich Ave & Brits Road, Karen Park Ext 25, Pretoria, Gauteng
Tel: +27 12 549 1023 | Fax: +27 12 549 1032
Argyle Clinic
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, Gauteng
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 Ave & Tom Jones St, Benoni 1501, Gauteng
Tel: +27 11 421 2452 | Fax: +27 11 845 4046
Birchmed Surgical Centre
8 Tiger Street, Birchleigh 1610, Gauteng
Tel: +27 11 391 3300 | Fax: +27 11 391 1091
Constantia Clinic
374 Ontdekkers Road, Florida Park, Gauteng
Tel: +27 11 472 1478 | Fax: +27 11 472 2968
Eugene Marais Hospital
695 5th Avenue, Les Marais, Pretoria 0084, Gauteng
Tel: +27 12 334 2777 | Fax: +27 12 334 2508
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, Pretoria, Gauteng
Tel: +27 12 328 3838 | Fax: +27 12 326 2714
Jakaranda Hospital
213 Middelburg Street, Meukleneuk, Pretoria, Gauteng
Tel: +27 12 343 2360 | Fax: +27 12 344 3392
Linksfield Park Clinic
24 12th Avenue, Orange Grove, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Tel: +27 11 640 7555 | Fax: +27 11 640 5314
Linmed Hospital
5 Hull Street, Rynfield, Benoni, Gauteng
Tel: +27 11 425 2331 | Fax: +27 11 425 2594
Little Company of Mary
50 George Storrar Drive, Groenkloof, Gauteng
Tel: +27 12 346 1080 | Fax: +27 12 346 3945
Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital
2 Bunting Road, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Tel: +27 11 489 1111 | Fax: +27 11 489 1190
New Kensington Clinic
23 Roberts Avenue, Kensington, Gauteng
Tel: +27 11 614 7125 | Fax: +27 11 614 3037
Olivedale Clinic
Cnr President Fouché & Windsor Way, Olivedale, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Tel: +27 11 462 5588 | Fax: +27 11 462 5611
Optiklin Eye Hospital
Klein Street, Lakefield, Benoni, Gauteng
Tel: +27 11 918 5478 | Fax: +27 11 918 3486
Rosebank Clinic
14 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Tel: +27 11 788 1980 | Fax: +27 11 447 7351
Springs Parkland Clinic
Artemis Road, Pollack Park, Springs 1559, Gauteng
Tel: +27 11 815 5212 | Fax: +27 11 815 2618 / 362 4474
Suikerbosrand Clinic
Cnr H. F. Verwoerd, Mare & Begeman Street, Heidelberg 2400, Gauteng
Tel: +27 16 349 2431 | Fax: +27 16 341 4821
Sunninghill Hospital
Cnr Witkoppen & Nanyuki Roads, Sunninghill, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Tel: +27 11 806 1500 | Fax: +27 11 806 1636
Sunward Park Hospital
Cnr Kingfisher Avenue, Aquarius Road & Bert Lacey Drive, Sunward Park, Boksburg, Gauteng
Tel: +27 11 913 2050 | Fax: +27 11 897 1607
Durban Oncology Centre
99 Jan Smuts Highway, West Ridge, Durban
Tel: +27 31 261 8221 | Fax: +27 31 261 8156
Empangeni Garden Clinic
Biyela & Ukula Streets, Empangeni 3880
Tel: +27 35 772 7716 | Fax: +27 35 792 1240
Entabeni Hospital
148 South Ridge Road, Berea, Durban 4001
Tel: +27 31 204 1300 | Fax: +27 31 261 6435
Kingsway Hospital
607 Kingsway Road, Amanzimtoti
Tel: +27 31 904 3600 | Fax: +27 31 904 3575
Parklands Hospital
Hopelands Road, Durban
Tel: +27 31 208 8181 | Fax: +27 31 207 3369
St. Anne’s Hospital
320 Loop Street, Pietermaritzburg
Tel: +27 33 145 0014 | Fax: +27 33 897 5001
St. Augustine’s Hospital
107 Chelmsford Road, Glenwood, Durban
Tel: +27 31 268 5053 | Fax: +27 31 201 4606
Umhlanga Hospital
323 Umhlanga Drive, Umhlanga
Tel: +27 31 560 5500 | Fax: +27 31 566 1660
Western Cape, with Cape Town as its urban center, offers many excellent private hospitals recommended for foreigners.
Brackenfell Sameday Surgical Centre
Jeanette Street, Brackenfell 7560
Tel: +27 21 981 4547 | Fax: +27 21 982 0439
Cape Anaesthetic Clinic
421 Medical Centre, Foreshore 8001
Tel: +27 21 425 2900 | Fax: +27 21 419 0246
City Park Hospital
181 Longmarket Street, Cape Town
Tel: +27 21 480 6111 | Fax: +27 21 426 1451
Geneva Clinic
7 Varing Avenue, Dormehlsdrift 6529
Tel: +27 44 873 6200 | Fax: +27 44 874 4452
Jan S Marais Hospital
10 Blanckenberg Street, Bellville 7530
Tel: +27 21 948 8131 | Fax: +27 21 946 4030
Kingsbury Hospital
Wilderness Road, Claremont 7735
Tel: +27 21 670 4000 | Fax: +27 21 683 5138
Lamprecht Clinic
Cnr Gloucester & York Street, George 6529
Tel: +27 44 874 6770 | Fax: +27 44 874 0932
Libertas Hospital
Voortrekker Road, Goodwood, Cape Town
Tel: +27 21 591 1151 | Fax: +27 21 591 5734
Louis Leipoldt Medi-Clinic
Broadway, Bellville 7530
Tel: +27 21 946 1170 | Fax: +27 21 948 7100
Vincent Pallotti Hospital
Alexandra Road, Pinelands, Cape Town 7405
Tel: +27 21 506 5111 | Fax: +27 21 531 1160
West Coast Private Hospital
22 Voortrekker Road, Vredenburg 7380
Tel: +27 22 719 1030 | Fax: +27 22 719 1037
Medovs Sameday Surgical Centre
Cnr Ella & Victoria Road, Bloemfontein 9301
Tel: +27 51 444 2119 | Fax: +27 51 444 1550
Pasteur Hospital
2 Addison Street, Hospital Park, Bloemfontein 9301
Tel: +27 51 522 6601 | Fax: +27 51 522 6654
The Kroon Hospital
Noord Road, Kroonstad
Tel: +27 56 215 1881 | Fax: +27 56 213 2626
Bronkhorstspruit Private Hospital
Barney Hurwitz Avenue, Bronkhorstspruit
Tel: +27 13 932 4101 | Fax: +27 13 932 2868
Cosmos Hospital
President Street, Witbank 1035
Tel: +27 13 656 6524 | Fax: +27 13 665 5658
Midmed Hospital
Cnr Mark & Joubert Street, Middelburg 1050
Tel: +27 13 282 6143 | Fax: +27 13 282 6126
Palm Sameday Surgical Centre
3rd Floor, Cosmos Centre, President Street, Witbank 1034
Tel: +27 13 690 2890 | Fax: +27 13 690 2453
Greenacres Hospital
Cnr Rochelle & 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’s Town 5600
Tel: +27 43 643 3522 | Fax: +27 43 643 3569
Hunterscraig Private Hospital
22 Park Drive, Central, Port Elizabeth 6000
Tel: +27 41 586 2664 | Fax: +27 41 586 4944
Mercantile Hospital
Cnr Kempston & Durban Roads, Korsten, Port Elizabeth 6020
Tel: +27 41 401 2700 | Fax: +27 41 401 2850
Oasim Private Hospital
Ground Floor, Oasim North, Havelock Street, Port Elizabeth 6000
Tel: +27 41 585 6537 | Fax: +27 41 586 3574
St. Dominic’s Hospital
45 St. Mark’s Road, Southernwood, East London 5201
Tel: +27 43 743 4303 | Fax: +27 43 722 3250
St. George’s Hospital
40 Park Drive, Port Elizabeth 6001
Tel: +27 41 392 6111 | Fax: +27 41 392 6000
St. James Hospital
36 St. James Road, Southernwood, East London 5201
Tel: +27 43 722 9685 | Fax: +27 43 722 5000
St. Mary’s Private Hospital
30 Durham Road, Umtata 5100
Tel: +27 47 531 2911 | Fax: +27 47 532 3125
Westways Medical Centre
Newton Park, Port Elizabeth 6000
Tel: +27 41 365 1026 | Fax: +27 41 365 4320
Anncron Clinic
Cnr Brady Avenue & Hartley Streets, Wilkoppies, Klerksdorp 2571
Tel: +27 18 468 1031 | Fax: +27 18 468 7188
Daylene Clinic
Cnr Brady & Hartley Streets, Wilkoppies, Klerksdorp 2572
Tel: +27 18 468 5380 | Fax: +27 18 468 6775
Ferncrest Hospital
Mouma Street, Thlabane, Rustenburg
Tel: +27 14 568 4399 | Fax: +27 14 568 4255
Peglerae Hospital
173 Wolmarans Street, Rustenburg 0300
Tel: +27 14 597 2680 | Fax: +27 14 592 7527
Victoria Private Hospital
Victoria Road, Mafikeng
Tel: +27 18 381 2043 | Fax: +27 18 381 1457
South Africa offers excellent healthcare; however, the country also faces significant challenges within the industry.
One of the main challenges is an extreme shortage of doctors. This is a significantly larger problem in the public sector than in the private one, and it is one of the primary reasons why expatriates must ensure they have the proper insurance to access the private healthcare system.
Overall, the country has a ratio of 4,024 people per doctor in the public system and 807 people per nurse. In the private sector, this ratio becomes much more reasonable: 330 people for every doctor and 160 people for every nurse.
South Africa offers its residents basic primary care, free of charge. But this is through the public health system, and in addition to providing only the basics, the system faces severe shortages of healthcare workers, including doctors. Additionally, the underfunded system is expected to meet the healthcare needs of over 80% of the country’s population.
The private healthcare system is a much more reliable way to receive high-quality medical care. And this healthcare is not free; it requires payment. Many of the people who use South Africa’s private healthcare system have private insurance.