Eastern Cape opens R416 million oncology centre in Mthatha

The Eastern Cape Provincial Government has opened a R416 million oncology centre at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha. The facility is designed to provide specialized cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and brachytherapy, directly to patients in the region.

The new centre aims to reduce the need for patients from the OR Tambo, Alfred Nzo, Chris Hani, and Joe Gqabi districts to travel long distances to KuGompo City or Gqeberha for radiotherapy. The facility is equipped with two linear accelerator (LINAC) machines and features 68 dedicated inpatient beds, which include 30 beds for female patients, 30 for male patients, and eight for pediatric and neonatal oncology.

Additional infrastructure includes an outpatient department with consultation and counseling rooms, a dedicated oncology pharmacy for chemotherapy mixing, and a suspended link bridge connecting the centre to existing hospital services such as radiology, laboratories, and operating theatres. The building is designed to allow for two additional floors in the future to accommodate growing demand.