Between October 2022 and January 2025, Mediclinic Cape Gate Day Clinic gave the gift of sight to 12 patients. In collaboration with the Western Cape Government, Paarl and Tygerberg Hospital offered pro bono cataract extraction and lens implant surgeries to patients on the public hospitals' waiting lists.
This is part of Mediclinic’s vision of supporting and collaborating with various provincial departments of health and public hospitals. Where needs exist, Mediclinic together with associated specialists, are able to utilise spare capacity to perform various surgeries.
To ensure that the process is equitable, patients from the public hospital are identified by their attending doctor as candidates for the surgery. These latest patients, from Tygerberg Hospital, were then admitted to Mediclinic Cape Gate Day Clinic where Dr Laurens van der Merwe, an ophthalmologist at the facility, performed the surgeries with the assistance of anaesthetist Dr Naomi du Plessis.
“Mediclinic is especially proud, as we realise what a significant impact these surgeries will play in improving the quality of life for these patients,” explains Marie Esterhuizen, Day Clinic Manager. “Sight can mean the difference between having work and being reliant on others; sight means watching your grandchildren grow up. It feels such a small contribution, but to the recipient, it could mean everything.”
These partnerships are made possible by the surgeons' pro bono contributions and donations of specialised equipment from companies such as Oculate and Envision.
Mediclinic Cape Gate Day Clinic opened its doors on 1 September 2020 and was the seventh day clinic to be launched by Mediclinic Southern Africa. Mediclinic Cape Gate Day Clinic is on the 2025 preferred cataract network provider list for most medical aids, including Discovery Health and Medshield. The 16-bed facility serves the greater northern suburbs community and is ideally situated right off the N1. Similar to the adjacent acute hospital, the facility continues to expand to better meet the demands of the constantly growing community with the third theatre recently being commissioned.