Health and Wellness
(a) (i) How many mobile health outreach units are currently operational in the province and (ii) in which districts are these units deployed, (b) what is the total budget allocated to mobile outreach services for the (i) 2023/24, (ii) 2024/25 and (iii) 2025/26 financial years, (c) how many patients were reached through mobile outreach programmes in each district in the past two financial years, (d) what specific health services are provided by the mobile outreach units and (e) what measures has her Department put in place to ensure (i) adequate staffing, (ii) the maintenance of mobile units and (iii) consistent medicine supply to these outreach services?
(a) (i) The number of mobile service points currently operational in the province is 78.
(ii) These units are deployed across the following health districts:
- Cape Winelands District: 28
- Central Karoo District: 2
- Garden Route District: 20
- Overberg District: 14
- West Coast District: 14
(b) Mobile services form part of the integrated Primary Health Care (PHC) platform. Costs for mobile outreach services are therefore not calculated as a standalone programme, as staff and operational resources are shared with fixed PHC facilities.
However, the vehicle costs associated with the mobile service fleet are reflected below:
- 2023/24: R19 206 883.81
- 2024/25: R20 271 258.37
- 2025/26: R11 586 702.86
Compensation of Employees (COE) costs cannot be isolated, as staff allocated to mobile services also render services at fixed PHC facilities. Similarly, inventory and operational costs are linked to the fixed facilities to which each mobile unit is attached. This integrated model ensures continuity of care, efficient utilisation of staff, and optimal deployment of resources across the PHC system.
(c) The number of patients reached through mobile outreach programmes in each district in the past two financial years is reflected below:
Health District | 2024 | 2025 | Grand Total |
Cape Winelands District | 144,181 | 149,537 | 293,718 |
Central Karoo District | 391 | 706 | 1,097 |
Garden Route District | 40,024 | 41,551 | 81,575 |
Overberg District | 40,234 | 27,665 | 67,899 |
West Coast District | 38,961 | 37,896 | 76,857 |
Grand Total | 263,791 | 257,355 | 521,146 |
(d) Mobile outreach units provide primary healthcare services with a strong emphasis on preventative care. These services include:
- Immunisation services for children
- Vitamin A supplementation and deworming programmes
- Female contraceptive services
- Screening and testing for tuberculosis (TB)
- Screening for hypertension and diabetes
- Screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
In addition, some mobile units provide dental services.
(e)(i) The Department’s ability to ensure adequate staffing is dependent on the budget allocation received. Within available resources, the Department has implemented several measures to optimise staffing:
- Prioritisation of mobile service posts, as mobile services form an integral part of the Primary Health Care platform.
- Continuous review of staffing requirements to ensure available posts are filled as efficiently as possible.
- Long-term strengthening of the skills mix, with the aim of staffing mobile health services with Clinical Nurse Practitioners (CNPs). CNPs are able to deliver both curative and preventative services, enhancing the quality and comprehensiveness of care delivered through mobile units.
(e)(ii) During the 2025/26 financial year, a total of 57 mobile units were replaced, and 6 additional new mobile units were procured to strengthen School Health Services.
This brings the total number of new PHC mobile units delivered during the financial year to 63.
These vehicles were procured through the Department’s partnership with the Department of Mobility, which is responsible for the maintenance, replacement, and lifecycle management of the mobile fleet.
(e)(iii) Mobile clinics form part of the district PHC service platform and are integrated into the existing medication supply system used by fixed facilities.
This includes the supply of medicines through the Central Dispensing Unit (CDU) for chronic patients, including patients receiving treatment for HIV, tuberculosis, and other chronic conditions, as well as medicines required for preventative services such as immunisation programmes.
