South Africa has two health systems, public and private. Private hospitals offer better facilities and shorter waits but are expensive, so most Chinese people living here long term take out medical aid. Choosing your cover and your nearest hospital in advance makes an emergency much easier to handle. Keep your medical aid card and your scheme’s emergency number with you at all times, and note the address of the nearest private emergency unit.
Start here
- Choosing medical aid: plan types, premiums, waiting periods and claims.
- Private hospitals and Chinese-speaking doctors: major private hospitals in the main cities and how to get seen.
Key things to know
- Emergency numbers. Call 10177 for an ambulance, or 112 from a mobile. Private emergency rooms usually ask for proof of medical aid or a deposit first.
- Medical aid is regulated. Schemes are overseen by the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), and every registered scheme must cover Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs), including emergencies and a list of common chronic conditions.
- Some visas require cover. Certain visas, such as the study visa, require proof of cover with a South African registered medical scheme, so check before you apply.
- National Health Insurance is still coming. The NHI Act was signed in 2024 but is being phased in; for now, private care still runs mainly on medical aid.
- Medicines and prescriptions. Many medicines need a doctor’s prescription in South Africa. If you bring medicine from China, carry the prescription or an English description.
Related sections
For what to do in an emergency, see Safety & security. For insurance requirements on study and work visas, see Visas & immigration.
