Medical treatment permit
South Africa is a country blessed with medical facilities of a high standard. Many foreigners come here purely to have medical treatment, since they can avoid the long queues and expenses in their own country.
Therefore, it is clearly designated as a viable destination for patients requiring various types of specialised medical care, particularly patients in Europe and other African countries. The immigration legislation of South Africa recognises the need to cater for such patients, and allows for a Medical Treatment Permit.
In order to qualify for the Medical Treatment Permit, the applicant needs to comply with the following requirements.
• A letter from the applicant’s doctor or hospital must be provided, stating the nature of the patient’s condition and the treatment required.
• The applicant must provide details of the institution or facility in South Africa where the proposed treatment is to take place.
• The applicant must provide the personal details of any persons accompanying him/her.
• The applicant must prove that he/she is able to support themselves financially for the duration of their stay in South Africa.
• The applicant must also be in possession of a valid return air ticket, failing which they must pay a deposit.
The Medical Treatment Permit is valid for a period of up to six months at a time. Where the treatment is not expected to take longer than three months, it is also possible to apply for a Visitor’s Permit.
Good day
I have a friend from Turkey (an engineer) who is currently working at a rig in Durban, he fell over a week ago and his knee is badly damaged. The doctor who came to see him, told him he need an operation to avoid amputation of his leg. The doctor also told him that he must pay R8 000 and he only had R5 000, which he gave to the doctor. I am really concerned that the doctor refuse to give medical care (operate since its an emergency); to save this man’s leg. The man is currently unable to work on the project and if he don’t get back to work, he will not be paid. He just told me that he was crying and begging pleading with the doctor to do the operation, that he can get back on his feet, the doctor refused. I’m getting worried now, is this the type of conduct our medical practitioners have when someone is in need? I’m asking you please see if you cant find a way to help this man. If he finishes the project he can pay the remainder of his medical care. He is very scared, he has no one here and he need to finish the project to get paid. You can phone him directly; his name is Alexander Jones cell: 078 409 6195, i’m really begging, if you cant help or assist him, please get someone who is willing to do this. Its not as if this man don’t have money, he will be paid after the construction project is finished and he need this operation to get him back on his legs urgently. The contractor who hired him, is now loosing their patience with him, they have extended his deadline for the project to be finish with 2 more weeks, they have made it clear if he don’t complete the project within this extended time, he will lose all his money and not be paid. So i’m asking you, I’ve emailed foreign affairs in South African and the Turkish consulate in Pretoria, but my pleading fell on deaf ears. I cannot believe that medical practitioners can put money before healing someone, irrespective if the person is a foreigner or South African. This is just as badly as Xenophobia, this man are being killed without helping him.