Q & A QUADCARE
South Africa’ s healthcare system faces significant challenges, including inadequate funding, staff shortages, and unequal access to quality care. The country’ s public healthcare sector is often overwhelmed, leaving many without access to essential medical services. It’ s for this reason that innovative and inclusive healthcare models like quadcare are vital. Founded by Dr Dulcy Rakumakoe, quadcare provides quality, affordable and dignified healthcare to underserved communities, bridging the gap in South Africa ' s healthcare landscape.
What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine, and how has your personal experience influenced your approach to healthcare?
Growing up in a township with only one doctor, I witnessed firsthand the challenges of accessing quality healthcare. My grandmother would often visit this doctor and the queues were long. At six years old she told me that when I grow up, I must become a doctor, so that I can treat her at home. And so, my fate was sealed.
National health coverage should be a non-negotiable.
Can you share more about the founding of quadcare and the mission behind it? What sets quadcare apart from other healthcare providers?
Quad stands for‘ Quality’,‘ Accessibility’ and‘ Dignity’. That is how healthcare should be provided to everyone. In South Africa, you have more than 80 % of the population uninsured, meaning they need to take money out of their pockets to access healthcare or go for the overburdened public healthcare. Our mission is to make sure people receive care that is affordable with love and compassion, whether they are rich or poor.
What strategies do you employ to ensure accessibility and affordability for your patients?
Our cash consultation, including medication, is R480, which provides people with essential medication after a thorough history-taking and examination. We also employ different levels of healthcare workers with varying scopes of practice to minimise wastage in the system. Additionally, we utilise technology to ensure providers are properly supervised, implement strict stock control measures, and provide regular staff training and sensitisation as part of our quality controls.
Your work in occupational health has been instrumental in addressing the health concerns of workers in various industries. What are some of the most pressing health issues you ' ve encountered, and how do you address them?
Our main client is in the mining industry, where we encounter issues such as workrelated injuries and illnesses related to exposures to different risks like noise, dust, ergonomics, and radiation. Chronic illnesses like HIV, diabetes, and hypertension are also pressing concerns that we manage rigorously. Additionally, we work with clients in construction, logistics and transport, and manufacturing, each with their unique set of health risks.
SA PROFILE www. saprofilemagazine. co. za
67