Johannesburg has a public and private healthcare system. The public healthcare system is called the National Health Insurance (NHI) and is used by South African citizens and permanent residents. It is not available to foreigners. People generally recommend using private hospitals in Johannesburg for serious medical emergencies and major surgery. Public hospitals in Johannesburg are often overcrowded and understaffed, and the quality of care can vary. Foreigners (expats and digital nomads) are not allowed to use the public healthcare system in South Africa, so they typically use private hospitals. Private hospitals in Johannesburg are well-equipped and offer a higher quality of care than public hospitals. People recommend using private hospitals for serious medical emergencies and major surgery.
Hospitals and Clinics for Expats in Johannesburg
Recommended clinics and hospitals in Johannesburg for expats include:
- Netcare Milpark Hospital (private) – located in the suburb of Parktown
- Netcare Sunninghill Hospital (private) – located in the suburb of Sunninghill
- Netcare Linksfield Hospital (private) – located in the suburb of Linksfield
- Netcare Garden City Clinic (private) – located in the suburb of Kramerville
- Netcare Olivedale Clinic (private) – located in the suburb of Olivedale
- Netcare Waterfall City Clinic (private) – located in the suburb of Midrand
- Netcare Unitas Hospital (private) – located in the suburb of Centurion
- Netcare Pretoria East Hospital (private) – located in the suburb of Faerie Glen
- Netcare Jakaranda Hospital (private) – located in the suburb of Pretoria East
- Netcare Montana Hospital (private) – located in the suburb of Montana
Emergency Services in Johannesburg
Johannesburg has a number of ambulance services. To call for an ambulance, dial 10177 from any phone. Ambulances usually arrive quickly, but there can be delays due to traffic or other factors.
Health Insurance Companies in Johannesburg
The most popular private health insurers in Johannesburg are Discovery Health, Momentum Health, and Bonitas Medical Fund. Expats and digital nomads typically use these companies or specialized expat health insurance providers.
