News - Dutch Group visit to South Africa

Elly Klinkenberg, Philip Friederich

In August 2007 a group of 15 Dutch gastroenterologists and GI fellows visited South Africa. The organizing team existed of Professor Chris Mulder, Elly Klinkenberg, and Philip Friederich. The group visited different hospitals in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Thereafter they attended the SAGES congress at Sun City.

At Monday we started at Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH). The program consisted of a full day program of lectures given by the GSH GI group. Not only general GI subjects were discussed but also lectures focused on the specific GI related health care problems in SAWestern Cape area. Particularly the first lecture “Overview of Health Care in SA” by Prof S Benatar was highly appreciated and provided a lot of discussion whereby the SA and Dutch health care were compared. Also the Cape experience with HIV and tuberculosis, particularly with GI involvement, was very new and instructive for the Dutch people. During lunch break we were invited to visit the GI ward, the outpatients department as well as the endoscopy rooms.

The next day the contrast between public and private hospitals was further stressed. Firstly we visited the GF Jooste hospital. The group was given a hearty welcome by Denis Allard, one of the surgeons. After a general introduction about the hospital we had a grand tour through the different wards, the ER and the outpatient clinic. It became very clear that the possibilities in this hospital are even more restricted than at the GSH. There are only 6 beds with respiration facilities for a population with many, many gunshot wounds. Moreover there are no endoscopic facilities and very limited access to ultrasound and CT scanning. The majority of patients are trauma victims and patients with diseases related to HIV and/or TBC. Kevin Rebe, one of the physicians, had an excellent presentation about the HIV- and TBC problem in SA, particularly in theWest Cape area.

The next stop was at Panorama Medi Clinic. The contrast could not have been bigger! Maarten Prins, one of the two gastroenterologists, showed us the other side of the health care in SA. Serene silence, few patients, luxurious endoscopy suites with “state of the art” equipment and posh bronze name plates on the doors of the different specialist suites. So, with a head full of new impressions and very much to discuss we left the next day for Johannesburg where we visited the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. The similarity with GF Jooste Hospital was striking. In this hospital also antiquated equipment, an enormous influx of patients and a very restricted financial budget. Again, we felt deep admiration and respect for the doctors who, without a decent financial compensation, day after day take care of an enormous amount of patients.

At the end of this day we left for Sun City to attend the SAGES congress.

The Dutch gastroenterologists and GI fellows would like to express their gratitude to all the people in SA who made this a really unforgettable visit. It was for us a very stimulating experience.We hope that by this visit we are able to initiate and stimulate programs like exchange of students, fellows and gastroenterologists. This visit has shown that we can learn a lot from each other! At this moment we are discussing plans for a follow up visit next year!!

We particularly want to thank Astra Zeneca Holland and their colleagues in Cape Town for facilitating this visit.







Baaie dankie!! On behalf of the "Dutch group"

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