MTHATHA – THE MEC for the Department of Health, Ntandokazi Capa, officially opened an In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) Clinic at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha, positioning the institution as one of only four public hospitals in South Africa to offer IVF services, last week.
This groundbreaking service expands access to specialised reproductive healthcare, offering hope to individuals and families who require fertility support within the public health system.
Capa said the hospital is the only one in the Eastern Cape that plays a critical role as a referral facility for rural and remote communities across the north-eastern part of the province.
“The introduction of IVF services within the public health sector offers renewed hope to families who previously faced significant financial and geographical barriers to accessing treatment. There are people who are desperately in need of this service. We have already received a number of enquiries since we circulated a poster. The feedback we are getting shows that people need this service and they are excited to have this facility here,” she said.
She added that approximately R12 million was spent on infrastructure and that specialists had been employed, meaning the facility is now fully staffed. The department is now planning to employ non-clinical staff who will focus on revenue generation and administration, ensuring these functions are separated from other departmental duties and dedicated to the facility.
Capa said that whilst the department aims to generate revenue, it fully understands that IVF is an expensive procedure. However, the service will be made accessible because it is offered at a public facility, particularly for local communities. According to her, priority will be given to people from rural areas.
“As a facility, we have a development plan in place, and the infrastructure department is part of our planning. We want to ensure that whatever needs to be maintained or purchased using the grant is done quickly. Most of the specialists employed are from the Eastern Cape, and we want to provide them with a conducive working environment so that they remain at the facility.”
She added that IVF specialists possess scarce skills and that the department is committed to retaining them. Where necessary, accommodation will be provided to ensure specialists remain in the province.
Capa said when the government decided to establish a central hospital in the province, the intention was to ensure that highly specialised services were accessible to communities. That is why Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital is expected to function fully as a central academic hospital, bringing services closer to the people.
She said the decision to introduce the service in a rural area such as Mthatha was aimed at ensuring that people do not have to travel long distances to access specialised healthcare.
She confirmed that patients accessing the service will pay for it. Those with medical aid who choose to use the facility will be charged significantly less than what they would pay in the private sector.
“In the private sector, patients may pay around R100,000. At this facility, they will pay less. However, as a public institution, there will be exceptional cases, particularly for people from rural areas. We will assess how best to assist them as a department.”
Capa added that there are already patients on the waiting list. “We currently have about 10 patients from Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital and four from Frere Hospital in East London, making a total of 14. There are also about 300 people who have already undergone preliminary tests.”
Provincial Deputy Director-General for Clinical Services in the Department of Health, Mtandeki Xhamlashe, said the initiative was conceptualised 10 years ago by former MECs and senior officials.
“Although some people are already aware of this service, many more will use it, which means additional capacity will be needed. Being in a rural area should not mean deprivation of services. ‘Rural’ should be a geographic description, not a socio-economic one. We are committed to changing that,” he said.
He added that whilst the infrastructure and equipment were completed within 12 months, the vision had taken a decade to realise. “This is the result of generations of leadership,” he said.
Eligibility criteria are outlined on official posters and include:
• Age limits and number of treatment cycles
• Referral pathways through the public health system
• Required documents and medical tests
• Clinic operating times and indicative costs
Members of the public are encouraged to review the information carefully and to follow the official referral process, starting at their nearest Primary Health Care facility.
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