The Department of Health contributes to the provision of primary healthcare to residents of Johannesburg. It also ensures the availability of safe, quality medication. To meet this mandate, it runs local clinics, provides education programmes and workshops, supports other healthcare bodies and monitors residents' health.  Based at the Metro Centre in Braamfontein, the department has a central unit that is responsible for planning, monitoring and evaluating, reporting, norms and service level standards, and policy, procedure and guideline development. Seven regional implementation units, demarcated according to the regions of the city, are responsible for managing the clinics under the city's jurisdiction, and delivering primary and environmental health services.

• Region A
• Region B
• Region C
• Region D
• Region E
• Region F
• Region G

The department has several sub-directorates, each with separate responsibilities:

• Management Support and Operations
• Environmental Health
• Public Health
• Primary Healthcare
• HIV and Aids and Sexually Transmitted Infections and
• Regional Health Services.

As in the majority of the African continent, HIV is especially prevalent in South Africa.  There are several specialized programs in Johannesburg targeted toward preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS, with links and general information listed below.

• Commercial Sex Workers Outreach Project
• The Mayoral Aids Fund
• Jozi Ihlomile
• Buckets of Love
• General information
• Voluntary counselling and testing
• Opportunistic diseases

The major public (provincial) hospitals in Johannesburg are run by the Gauteng Provincial Administration. The city is responsible for public health issues such as immunisation, maternal and child health, AIDS education and prevention, and inspecting premises such as restaurants for health hazards  The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA or the Council) is a statutory body, established in terms of the Health Professions Act No. 56 of 1974. The Council, together with the twelve Professional Boards that operate under its jurisdiction, is committed to :

• Promoting the health of South Africa's population,
• Determining standards of professional education and training, and
• Setting and maintaining fair standards of professional practice.

An entirely autonomous organisation, HPCSA does not receive grants or subsidies from government or any other source, and is funded entirely by the health care professions it represents. Click here for a list of the health care practitioners that fall under its jurisdiction. Each of the professions registered with Council is further represented by one of twelve professional boards, the boards and Council being interactive entities 

HPCSA website: http://www.hpcsa.co.za/hpcsa/default.aspx

Since 1992, the Health Systems Trust has contributed to the development of a health system that can meet the needs of all South Africans, including the most disadvantaged. It works with all stakeholders in order to improve health care, particularly in areas most underserved and in need.

Health Systems Trust website: http://www.hst.org.za/   

The chart below lists the provincial hospitals in and around Johannesburg, with contact telephone numbers.

Johannesburg has 96 clinics, including mobile units, which were visited by a total of 2 696 714 patients between July 2005 and June 2006.

Useful Addresses

• Natural Health Network
  http://www.naturalhealth.co.za/
• South African Health News Service
  http://www.health-e.org.za/ 
• Department of Health
  http://www.doh.gov.za/ 
• http://www.southafrica.info/about/health/health.htm
• http://www.saeverything.co.za/health-gauteng.htm