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A hospital ward
Health services in North West have come under sharp focus as Deputy Minister of Health Joe Phaahla embarked on an oversight visit of health facilities in the Provincial capital, Mahikeng.
Poor service, staff shortage and infrastructure challenges were some of the issues raised.
Phaahla says his visit helped identify areas needing urgent attention.
“Mahikeng hospital, as we know, is 57 years old. There are a number of areas which need urgent maintenance and improvement. We have been discussing how we will accommodate patients whilst we do renovations on the wards. We have decided to erect temporary structures in the meantime. We will put the Health Revitalisation Grant to good use.”
Patients at the Mahikeng Provincial hospital say it is in dire need of improvements.
“The services here are both good and bad. The wards are dirty, there are no cleaners and patients wait long periods to be attended to. I met with the board to complain about the long queues. A patient can come here at 6 am and leave the next day around 12 noon. Everything is poor here; those of us who used to work here as whilst on contract tried to keep the hospital clean, but now it is a completely different case.”
MEC Sello Lehari today welcomed the Deputy Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla as he conducted a health care facilities oversight in Mahikeng Provincial Hospital, Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital and Lonely Park Clinic. pic.twitter.com/XFHkf5uTyt
— North West Health (@NorthWestDOH) October 31, 2025
Phaahla also inspected the nearby Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital following delays in its completion.
“Here, I think their main issue is the urgency to complete the new facility. One knows it has taken a long time to get this facility up and running. It’s still not a hundred percent, as you know, there is a construction site, which I’m informed there was a timeline of around June next year. But because of various problems, including demand from what is called business forums disrupting, it’s likely that the facility may only be completed by December next year.
The Deputy Minister’s visit is part of his programme to monitor the state of healthcare delivery across the country.
