Medical and Health Services that are providing essential services in South Africa are doing so as per government regulations that were implemented by President Cyril Ramaphosa when he announced the first phase of lockdown in the country due to the outbreak of COVID-19 as the government is doing the best to fight the spread of the deadly virus.
Government hospitals, clinics and health centres are operating 24 hours in the country as they are making sure that all people under lockdown have access to any kind of help regarding their medical status. All South Africans have access to their clinics for 24 hours a day for the first time as the president announced that the health facilities must not close during lockdown.
Private hospitals and clinics are also available to help South Africans during these difficult times. All South Africans are allowed to go to a private health provider should they feel they have symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus and they should not be turned away by those institutions whether they have a medical aid or not.
Pharmacies and other institutions providing healthcare services are operating normally during lockdown so that those who have underlying medical conditions can access their medicine during lockdown in South Africa. It was announced by the president that no one should be turned away during lockdown by pharmacies should they require an emergency medicine or tablets.
Pharmacies were given special instructions by government that they are not allowed to increase the price of any medicine or tablets during lockdown so that everyone can afford to buy important medicines or tablets that are helping them in their lives. Should any of the pharmacies not obey this regulation they are risking their operating license as it might be cancelled by the government and the health department.
Laboratories are also functioning normally plus overtime during lockdown in the country as most of the tests done for COVID-19 require their services to validate if the people tested are positive or negative. They are given specific time frames to provide feedback to the national department of health regarding any results done one people around South Africa for the coronavirus.
