Delivering essential breast cancer screening services in the public sector

Life Healthcare is proud to continue supporting PinkDrive NPC with its latest funding, which will deliver critical mammography services at Dr George Mukhari Hospital in support of the Gauteng Department of Health. 

This renewed support ensures that essential breast cancer screening services continue uninterrupted during the installation of the hospital’s new mammography machine, preventing service backlogs and supporting early detection efforts for vulnerable patients.

PinkDrive, South Africa’s best-known mobile cancer screening organisation, will deploy its state-of-the-art Mobile Women’s Health Unit to provide mammograms to patients referred by the hospital. This collaboration safeguards continuity of care for women in the public health system who might otherwise face delays in screening and diagnosis.

“Cancer doesn’t wait, and neither should access to care,” says Noelene Kotschan, CEO and Founder of PinkDrive NPC. “We are incredibly grateful to Life Healthcare for recognising the urgency and stepping up once again to help us fill a critical gap in services. Their funding ensures that women at Dr George Mukhari Hospital can continue to access timely and professional screening, giving them the best possible chance at early diagnosis and treatment.”

This intervention comes at an extremely important time for the South African healthcare system, where backlogs and limited access to specialist diagnostic equipment often contribute to late-stage cancer diagnoses. The continued partnership between PinkDrive, Life Healthcare and the Gauteng Department of Health is a powerful example of how public-private partnerships can directly benefit patients and strengthen the public health system.

“As a leading healthcare provider, we are committed to making a significant impact on cancer outcomes in South Africa,” says Adam Pyle, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at Life Healthcare. “Through our ongoing support of PinkDrive NPC and their mobile cancer screening services, we are ensuring that more South Africans, especially those in underserved communities, have access to early detection services, which contributes to improving patient outcomes.”

Cancer remains a growing public health challenge in South Africa, with incidence and mortality rates on the rise. Mammograms are one of the most effective tools for early detection of breast cancer, which remains one of the leading cancers among women. The temporary deployment of PinkDrive’s mobile services at Dr George Mukhari Hospital represents a critical safety net for patients while the hospital enhances its capacity.

Learn more about PinkDrive here. Learn more about Life Healthcare's Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programmes here.

Life Healthcare has been supporting PinkDrive since 2022 as part of its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme.