Dr Mashuda Ally
General practice in Pretoria involves more than just diagnosis and prescription. A GP here needs to navigate Eskom's load-shedding schedule—knowing when their practice might lose power affects how they manage blood tests, file digital records, and process medical aid claims through systems like GoodX and Elixir. Chronic disease management means staying across SARS-approved script protocols for conditions that affect the city's professionals and retirees alike. Insurance billing is intricate: understanding which medical aids cover which treatments, handling provisional authorisations, and keeping up with benefit changes. Emergency care after-hours brings unpredictable demand. Good GPs in this city balance the technical side—knowing when to refer, staying current with drug interactions—with the practical reality of how Pretoria's healthcare infrastructure actually functions day-to-day.