Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital

Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital is a 3000 bed academic hospital attached to the University of the Witwatersrand.  It is the largest hospital in the world. (Guiness Book of Records 1994)  It serves the community of Soweto and is a referral hospital for other areas of South Africa and beyond. The Department of Internal Medicine is the largest in the hospital with 776 beds.  It is an extremely busy department admitting over 3000 patients a month.  The spectrum of pathology is immense and fascinating; the facilities for investigations are sophisticated and comprehensive.  The department comprises of 5 large general medical units plus the following subspecialities which are accredited for subspeciality training:  Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Haematology, Infectious Diseases, Nephrology, Pulmonology, Rheumatology.  Palliative Care is also well established.  The department is one of the leading teaching facilities in the Faculty of Health Sciences, both for undergraduate and post graduate students.  It also provides training facilities for sub-specialist trainees.  Most of the research is conducted through the sub-specialities and is reflected in their sections.

Entrance to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital with Administration Building in the background

Staffing:                                                                                                                                                

Interns = 25
Medical Officers = 20
Registrars = 40
Consultants = 40

The Senior staff are highly qualified and experienced:

Professor K.R.L. Huddle	FCP(SA) FRCP	Professor of Medicine and Head of Department
Prof. R. Ally	FCP(SA)	Head of Gastroenterology + Medical Unit
Professor M.R. Essop	FCP(SA), MRCP
Professor R. Shires	FCP(SA), PHD	Head of Endocrinology + Medical Unit
Dr. A. Karstaedt	FCP(SA), DTMH	Head of Infectious Diseases
Dr. I. Katz	FCP(SA)	Head of Nephrology
Professor H.J. Hodkinson	FCP(SA)	Head of Medical Unit
Professor T. Parbhoo	FCP(SA)	Head of Medical Unit
Professor M. Patel	FCP(SA), PhD	Head of Haematology
Professor M. Tikly	FRCP, PHD	Head of Rheumatology
Dr. M. Wong	FCP(SA)	Head of Pulmonology

Current Projects

• The “Primary Prevention Programme”, an initiative of Dr. Katz’s Nephrology team, is investigating the impact of early detection and treatment of renal disease at community level.  This project has recently been recognized by the Gauteng Department of Health in the form of a Khanyisa Award.
•  The second initiative is the “Heart of Soweto Study” which is being conducted by Prof. Sliwa of the Division of Cardiology, It aims to map cardiovascular disease in Soweto and then look at interventions, which would be effective at tertiary and primary care levels.  Both of these initiative are exciting and promise to deliver better health care to our Sowatan community.
• The antiretroviral rollout under the leadership of Dr. Karstaedt has now enrolled >3000 patients.  A significant number of these patients have responded well to treatment, regaining health and dignity.  delivery.          

Our Contact details are as follows:

Professor K.R.L. Huddle:                                  Telephone:      (011) 933-2040
                                                                      Fax:                (011) 938-1454
                                                                      e-Mail:           huddlekr@medicine.wits.ac.za


Miss Jean Johnstone (Secretary)                       Telephone:      (011) 933-8940
                                                                       Fax:                (011) 938-1454
                                                                       e-Mail:           johnstonej@medicine.wits.ac.za