The Eastern Cape Provincial Government s initiative to introduce additional emergency medical vehicles and mobile clinics is a significant step towards improving healthcare access in the province. This effort is particularly impactful for rural areas where residents often face challenges in accessing timely and adequate medical care.

These new assets, which include 15 rescue vehicles designed to navigate challenging terrains and provide immediate medical attention, were unveiled at SS Gida Hospital in Keiskammahoek by Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane together with Health MEC Ntandokazi Capa. The vehicles will be distributed across various districts in the province, primarily for rescue operations.

Additionally, nine state-of-the-art mobile clinics have been handed over to strengthen primary healthcare services, especially benefiting rural residents. This is expected to bridge the healthcare gap, ensuring that even remote communities receive timely medical intervention and improved primary healthcare services.

The Eastern Cape government has been actively working to enhance access to healthcare services through several key initiatives and programmes to address challenges faced by the province, including rural healthcare access, infrastructure development, and service quality improvement.

Some of these initiatives include construction of new hospitals, with focus in rural areas, establishing and equipping specialised care centres for critical health issues such as cancer, as well as upgrading of existing facilities.

These efforts collectively aim to create a more robust and accessible healthcare system in the Eastern Cape, ensuring that all residents have access to the care they need and deserve , Premier Mabuyane said.