The Social Development and Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang of South Africa has launched the telemedicine project and opened renal dialysis unit at Polokwane Hospital.
This would be the fourth initiative of its kind in the province. The renal dialysis unit is a public-private partnership involving the refurbishing of the renal dialysis unit at Mankweng Hospital complex outside Polokwane. The unit will accommodate 80 patients and will provide a full range of haemodialysis services. The project aims to research cost-effectiveness and efficiency of telemedicine in expanding access to quality health care, particularly in the rural areas of the province. The project is a joint venture between the different government departments, including the Medical Research Council of South Africa, and the Department of Health.
