Gauteng expands mobile clinic fleet to 53 to bring healthcare closer to communities

The Gauteng Department of Health has expanded its mobile clinic fleet to 53 units as part of efforts to take primary healthcare services closer to communities across the province.

Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness Faith Mazibuko unveiled seven additional fully equipped mobile clinics at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital on Tuesday.

The expansion represents a 15% increase in the department’s mobile clinic fleet and follows the distribution of 16 mobile clinics across the province in February 2025.

The latest units will be deployed across the Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng health districts.

Following the latest allocation, Johannesburg will have 12 mobile clinics, Ekurhuleni 11, Tshwane eight and Sedibeng seven.

The West Rand, which already has the largest fleet with 15 mobile clinics, did not receive an additional unit in the latest allocation.

The department said the move was aimed at strengthening healthcare capacity in districts where additional services are needed.

Gauteng's growing population, driven by people moving to the province in search of employment and economic opportunities, has increased pressure on healthcare services.

The growth of formal and informal settlements has also created greater demand for healthcare services in townships, hostels, farming communities and areas located far from established health facilities.

“We know that Gauteng is changing. Communities are growing, new settlements are developing and people’s needs are changing with them. Our health services must also change and respond to these realities,” Mazibuko said.

“Our responsibility is not only to wait for people to come to our facilities. Where there are barriers, we must find ways to reach people.”

Services offered by mobile clinics

The investment directly responds to G10 of the Gauteng 13 Problems (G13) identified by Premier Panyaza Lesufi, which focuses on improving services at hospitals and clinics and expanding access to quality healthcare.

The new mobile units are equipped with essential medical equipment, clinical examination tools, oxygen facilities, refrigeration units, generators and solar-powered support systems.

They will provide a range of primary healthcare services, including health screening and early detection, HIV and TB prevention, testing and linkage to care.

Services will also include healthcare for women, children and young people, hypertension and diabetes screening, health promotion and patient referrals.

The mobile clinics will complement existing fixed healthcare facilities, community health workers and outreach programmes.

District health teams will identify communities with the greatest gaps in access and develop schedules informing residents when and where mobile clinic services will be available.

Mazibuko said the mobile clinics should serve as a link to further healthcare rather than becoming an endpoint for patients.

“The mobile clinic may be the first point of contact, but it must never be a dead end. When a patient requires additional care, there must be a clear and reliable pathway into the appropriate health facility,” she said.

The department said it would monitor the clinics to ensure they are properly maintained, staffed, equipped and deployed in areas where they are most needed.

Their impact will be measured by the number of people reached, conditions detected early and patients successfully linked to further care.