Minister of Health, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo welcomes this generous donation from De Puy Synthes’. “This initiative will in effect change the lives of many. The Western Cape Government Health embraces the keen interest of our partners in healthcare provision in improving the quality of the services offered by the Western Cape Government Health. This is indeed a flagship for the Worcester Hospital” These are the kind of partnerships we refer to when we speak of a whole-society approach to healthcare provision, said Mbombo.

Speaking at the official donation handover, Elbie Vosloo, CEO of Worcester Hospital, acknowledged that although the facility has a state-of-the-art and well-functioning orthopaedic department, it has a waiting list of over 350 patients who require arthroplasty related surgery. “Arthroplasty surgery specifically focuses on surgically reconstructing or replacing a joint. Based on the great need for this type of surgery, the Western Cape Government Health is thankful to the private sector, which forges such initiatives to affect positive change in the lives of the greater community.”

Aided by Western Cape Government Health’s current provincial Arthroplasty Project, the facility has managed to bring the average waiting time down to two years by performing double the number of arthroplasty procedures that would normally occur within the available budget allocation.

“With this donation, which comprises of knee and hip replacements, Worcester Hospital will be able to assist an additional 67 recipients at no cost to them, reducing the waiting time by ± 3 months,” comments Vosloo.

The roll-out of the project will be conducted during the 2015/16 financial year. The 67 recipients will be selected from the current orthopaedic surgery list and their selection will be based on international criteria.

Although the cost of the entire surgical procedure is dependent on many factors, an arthroplasty procedure would cost an average of R125 000.00, making it merely impossible for the average individual to afford.

Vosloo adds that due to a number of socio – economic factors, such as increased levels of unemployment and poverty in the Worcester region, many of the individuals who require arthroplasty surgery to improve the quality of their life are not able to afford the cost of the procedure and are therefore reliant on the public health system.

Dr Theodore Franken, the head of the Orthopaedics Clinical Unit at Worcester Hospital, will drive the project and says that the recipients of the joint replacement surgery will benefit in many ways.

He highlights that pain relief is the key benefit for any individual who undergoes joint replacement surgery, because the diseased cartilage and bone are removed. “Other benefits include gains in functional activity, particularly mobility as well as an overall improvement to the individual’s life.”

This is the first time that De Puy Synthes’ has embarked on a donation of this scale in South Africa. Westley Turnbull, Sales Director for the company, says that the donation serves the sole purpose of improving the lives of 67 patients in need.

“This donation is made in celebration of the late Nelson Mandela’s birthday, known around the world as Mandela Day, and serves to emulate his character by serving those in need. This resonates with our company credo, which guides us to care for the communities in which we live and work,” adds Turnbull.

Issued by the Directorate Communications for the Western Cape Government Health.