The Student Wellness Service (SWS) offers a comprehensive outpatient medical service by both medical practitioners and nurses, who are dedicated to helping students to remain healthy, and to make the correct life choices while pursuing their academic goals. Students are encouraged to seek assistance and guidance as early as possible.

What we can assist with and how

A variety of services are offered for health issues, including:

  • Clinical consultations: a clinical nurse practitioner or medical practitioner in a confidential, holistic primary healthcare setting; all staff members are qualified, accredited practitioners 
  • COVID -19 consultations: online only with advice and referral as required
  • Pharmacy: essential medication is sold at a cost price. Specialised or chronic medicines will require a prescription from a medical practitioner. The student will have to purchase this at a local pharmacy or be referred to the nearest Community Clinic
  • HIV/AIDS: pre- and post-test voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) is offered free to all students
  • Reproductive health:  men and woman's Health, sexually transmitted diseases (STI), pregnancy, contraception, Pap smear, emergency contraception (EC)
  • Mental health: referrals to the SWS psychiatrist only by SWS health professionals
  • Managed medical conditions: asthma, diabetes, hypertension, HIV, tuberculosis, epilepsy, depression
  • Academic concessions on medical grounds
  • Accident insurance/sports injury: limited insurance to cover an accidental injury.
  • Physiotherapy for sports injury: for details, see collaboration with Holistic Physiocare
  • Psychological support: anxiety, depression, relationship and sexuality issues - when necessary, can be referred to our Counselling Services
  • Referrals: to alternative resources such as physiotherapists, dentists, X-rays, secondary and tertiary hospitals, private hospitals, and specialists
  • Travel advice: travel advice including Malaria prophylaxis and prevention
  • Minor surgical procedures: suturing, incision and drainage of abscesses, removal of splinters

Confidentiality

All medical consultations are strictly confidential and will not be divulged to any other party outside of the Student Wellness Service. Read more.

How you can contact us

Telephone: 021 650 1020

For appointments with the medical team, please use the SWS Medical Appointments booking form  online. 
See our Appointments with SWS page for more information.

Toll free numbers to call when you are in distress

  • SADAG UCT Student Careline: 0800 24 25 26 free from a Telkom line or SMS 31393 for a call-me-back. This line offers 24/7 telephonic counselling, advice, referral facilities and general support to students facing any mental health challenges or contemplating suicide. The line is available to offer support and advice to anyone who is concerned about a student who might be in distress. The line is able to advise and refer callers to both internal UCT resources and external (NGO, public and private) mental health resources.
  • Please make use of the SADAG UCT Student Careline if you are placed on a waiting list by reception at the Student Wellness Service or if you require emotional support while waiting for an appointment. The SADAG website contains useful information about mental health issues as well as details of their national helplines. 

You have an emergency?

During office hours (08h30–16h00):
Phone 021 650 1020 for assistance from the Student Wellness Service Hotline.

All hours:
For medical emergencies, phone 010 205 3010 (ER24 UCT collaboration).
For mental health emergencies, phone 0800 24 25 26 (toll-free) or text 31393 for a call-me-back (UCT Student Careline).

See here for first steps in a medical/mental health emergency.

 

See also our Emergencies page for additional specialised services and contacts.