Gauteng health urges residents to use free physiotherapy services to aid recovery
Communities can access these services at primary healthcare facilities.
The Gauteng Department of Health has urged residents to utilize free physiotherapy services available at public health facilities to aid in recovery. Steve Mabona, the health spokesperson, stated that these services are part of the department's efforts to support patients and prevent disability, improve recovery outcomes, and enhance overall quality of life.
According to Mabona, physiotherapy helps individuals recover from illness and injury, manage chronic conditions, and improve their quality of life. These services are accessible at primary healthcare facilities, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and through community-based programs. The department has seen a significant increase in demand for rehabilitation due to non-communicable diseases such as stroke, arthritis, and chronic respiratory disease.
In 2019/20 and 2025/26, these conditions accounted for over 220,000 new patient episodes and more than 438,000 follow-up interventions, as well as more than 192,000 new injury-related cases and nearly 497,000 follow-up sessions. The department remains committed to expanding access at the primary healthcare level, with physiotherapists engaging communities through the "Movement is Medicine" campaign, urging residents experiencing pain or reduced mobility to visit their nearest clinic.
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