Doctors and Hospitals in Cape Town
The modern, efficient private hospitals of Cape Town are home to talent that more than matches the facilities. Frequently, skills in just about any area of specialization are no more than a few floors away. If you’re in a Netcare or Medi-Clinic hospital, you can demand and expect treatment equivalent to a first world establishment.
Generally speaking, the best general practioners and surgical specialists work in big institutions. However, health workers dealing with less acute maladies, such as dentists and sports therapists, often operate out of private, even residential facilities. This allows them to cut down on fees that would normally be elevated by the high overheads of maintaining a hospital-based practice. Nonetheless, the typical range of prices when it comes to consultations is not too wide. You’re likely to pay around R270 for a general check-up, R250 for an eye exam, and R300 for an oral examination by a dentist.
It’s these relatively low prices that continue to attract foreigners in need of surgical procedures. Be aware, however, that if this is the reason for your journey to Cape Town, you will need to apply for a medical visa for any visit lasting longer than three months. You can find the relevant form, the BI-1738, at http://www.home-affairs.gov.za/documents/bi1738.pdf.
Aside from the excellent private ambulance services provided by Netcare and Medi-Clinic (see the sections below), there is one good company that offers doctors 24/7 for short notice house, office and hotel visits across the Atlantic Seaboard and CBD. You can call their offices on 011 788 2222 or 082 857 8999. Visit http://www.doctorsoncall.co.za for more information.
