Initiatives to improve health care in the Eastern Cape Province which will “repurpose” and “reclassify” several health facilities across the province, is a bold step which is encouraging. This is the plan of the health MEC in the province who envisions a health department that can adequately respond to medical needs across a wide range of diseases including non-communicable diseases.

This initiative would not only improve access to primary health care even in the far-flung areas of the Eastern Cape, but also ensure the department would be in a position to optimally use available resources within the financial constraints.

The advocacy for a “hub and spoke approach” to how the organisation of health services in the province is being considered. This approach proved efficient and successful during the Covid-19 pandemic because this approach connects facilities to each other so that there is an identified facility which provides a service, with the other facilities in that geographic area linked to and referring patients to that facility.

No definite number of health facilities have been identified as yet for the repurposing and reclassification as the department is committed to consulting meaningfully with staff and communities as an integral part of the process. We urge for this process to be implemented as timeously as possible so that our people are able to access quality health care services.