Coronavirus: Private hospitals pledge to offer beds and wards free of charge

Coronavirus: Private hospitals pledge to offer beds and wards free of charge

The province's efforts to deal with the Coronavirus outbreak have received a shot in the arm, with several private healthcare providers coming on board. 

Hospital bed corridor generic
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The KZN Health Department says following a meeting on Friday, nearly a dozen of them have agreed to make their beds available should there be a large number of infections in the province. 


They include Royal Hospital, Midlands Medical, Mediclinic, Cheshire Sub-Acute, Hibiscus and Busamed. 


READ: SA's COVID-19 cases rise further


Netcare's Director of Strategy and Health Policy Melanie De Silva says while a few things still need to be ironed out, a concerted effort is needed to tackle the pandemic. 


"South Africa is facing an unprecedented time in our history and Netcare is fully committed to supporting our national effort and as it stands we are currently engaging with stakeholders from the health care sector as well as business organisations and we are taking direction from the national Department of Health," said De Silva. 


The department is expected to meet with the groups on Wednesday to thrash out the details of the partnership.


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