View source for South African Military Health Service

{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = South African Military Health Service
| native_name = {{langx|af|Suid-Afrikaanse Militêre Gesondheidsdiens}}
| image = SAMHS logo.svg
| image_size = 150px
| caption = Emblem of SAMHS
| dates = 1979{{snd}}1994 (as [[South African Medical Service|SAMS]] of the [[SADF]])<br/>1994{{snd}}present (as [[SAMHS]] of the [[SANDF]])
| country = {{flag|South Africa}}
| allegiance = 
| branch = 
| type = Military Health Service
| size = {{plainlist|
* 9,922<ref name=StaffingTargets>{{cite web|title=SANDF not meeting staffing targets|url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36949:sandf-not-meeting-staffing-targets&catid=111:SA%20Defence&Itemid=242|website=defenceweb.co.za|publisher=DefenceWeb|accessdate=12 November 2014|date=11 November 2014}}</ref> (Active)
* 1,115 (In Reserve)
}}
| command_structure = [[Department of Defence (South Africa)|Department of Defence]]
| garrison = [[Pretoria]], [[Gauteng]]
| garrison_label = -Headquarter
| nickname = Medics
| motto = The official SAMHS motto is “Audaces Servamus”, which translates from Latin as “We Serve the Brave”-a tribute to their mission of supporting those on the frontlines.
| patron = 
| colors = Maroon
| colors_label = 
| march = 
| mascot = 
| equipment = 
| equipment_label = 
| battles = 
| anniversaries = 1995 - 2025 {birth 2026} consilidatory division - 92023
| decorations = 
| battle_honours = <!-- Commanders -->
| commander1 = Ms Angie
Motshekga
| commander1_label = Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs
| commander2 = [[Lieutenant General Ntshavheni Peter Maphaha]]
| commander2_label = Surgeon General
| identification_symbol = [[File:SAMHS flag.svg|centre|200px]]
| identification_symbol_label = SAMHS Emblem (Badge): The emblem prominently features the Rod of Aesculapius (a staff with a single serpent entwined), a universally recognized symbol of medicine, representing healing and medical care.
| identification_symbol_2 = 
| identification_symbol_2_label = 
| identification_symbol_3 = 
| identification_symbol_3_label = 
| identification_symbol_4 = 
| identification_symbol_4_label = 
}}

The '''South African Military Health Service (SAMHS)''' operates within the broader framework of the '''South African National Defence Force (SANDF)''' and plays a key role in supporting '''national security, humanitarian relief''' and '''public health capacity''' in South Africa.

South Africa faces a variety of '''security and health challenges''' including:

· '''Regional instability and peacekeeping commitments''' in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African Union (AU) regions.

· '''Domestic humanitarian crises''' such as natural disasters, disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.

· '''High burden of communicable diseases''' which impact both military readiness and the health of the broader population.

Given these challenges, SAMHS operates at the intersection of '''defence''', '''public health''' and '''disaster response''', supporting both '''military operations''' and '''national development goals'''.

'''Role within the National Defence Framework'''

As the '''fourth Arm of Service''' within the SANDF (alongside the Army, Air Force and Navy), SAMHS is tasked with providing '''comprehensive healthcare support''' to:

· All active '''SANDF members''' (land, sea, air and Special Forces).

· '''Military dependents and families''' as authorised.

· '''Veterans''' in collaboration with other government departments.

· Members of other '''government security departments''' including '''SAPS''' and '''Correctional Services''' on an as-required basis.

==History==
[[File:Flag of the South African Medical Service (1979–1994).svg|thumb|Flag of the Medical Service 1979-1994]]
The predecessor of the SAMHS, the [[South African Medical Service]], was established as a full service branch of the [[South African Defence Force]] (SADF) on 1 July 1979 in order to consolidate and strengthen the medical services of the [[South African Army]], [[South African Navy]] and [[South African Air Force]].

==Rationalisation==
Following the end of the [[South African Border War|Border War]], in the early 1990s, it implemented several retrenchment measures. It consolidated all [[quartermaster]] stores in the [[Cape Town]] and [[Bloemfontein]] areas, relocated its training center from [[Potchefstroom]] to [[Pretoria]], closed several medical supply depots, consolidated computer centers and systems, rationalized procedures for procuring medicine and medical equipment, discontinued survival training, and reduced or closed sickbays and military medical clinics that served other armed services affected by retrenchments.

The SAMS was incorporated into the [[South African National Defence Force]] on 27 April 1994, and was renamed the South African Military Health Service on 1 June 1998.

==Organisational structure==
The SAMHS includes active duty military personnel and civilian employees of the Department of Defence. In addition, the service employs roughly 400 medical doctors and private medical specialists are sometimes appointed to supplement the staff of the SAMHS.

The Surgeon General heads the SAMHS and has the rank of [[Lieutenant-General]]. The SAMHS operates three Military [[Hospital]]s; one in [[Pretoria]], one in [[Cape Town]] and one in [[Bloemfontein]]. There are also four specialized institutes - the Institute for Aviation Medicine, the Institute for Maritime Medicine, the Military Veterinary Institute and the Military Psychological Institute. Together, these units provide comprehensive medical care for military personnel and their dependents, as well as the police and employees of other security-related government departments, and occasionally to neighboring countries. The SAMHS also provides extensive veterinary services for animals (mainly horses and dogs) used by the security and correctional services. The Institute for Aviation Medicine and the Institute for Maritime Medicine screen pilot candidates for the air force and for civilian aviation certification, as well as divers and submariners for the navy. The military's medical services also include general medical and dental care, and specialized rehabilitation services.

The SAMHS is organized into regional medical commands, corresponding to the army's regional commands, as well as a Medical Logistics Command and a Medical Training Command. The regional commands support military units, military base hospitals, and military unit sickbays in their region. The Medical Logistics Command is responsible for [[medical logistics]] only, as each service provides for its own logistics support. In addition, the Medical Training Command supervises the South African Medical Service College, the South African Military Health Service Nursing College, and the South African Military Health Service Training Centre, as well as the military hospitals' training programs. The nursing college, in Pretoria, grants a four-year nursing diploma in association with the [[University of South Africa]]. Specialized, in-service training courses for nurses and for nursing assistants are also available.

===Formations===

====Mobile Military Health Formation====
{{see|SAMHS Mobile Medical Brigade}}
*[[1 Medical Battalion Group]] (Reserve)
*[[3 Medical Battalion Group]] (Reserve)
*[[6 Medical Battalion Group]] (Reserve)
*[[7 Medical Battalion Group]]
*[[8 Medical Battalion Group]]

====Tertiary Military Health Formation====

*[[1 Military Hospital]] ([[Pretoria]])
*[[2 Military Hospital]] ([[Cape Town]])
*[[3 Military Hospital]] ([[Bloemfontein]])
*[[Institute for Aviation Medicine]] (Centurion)
*[[Institute for Maritime Medicine]] ([[Simon's Town]])
*[[Military Psychological Institute]] ([[Pretoria, Area Military Health Unit]])
*[[Military Veterinary Institute]] ([[Potchefstroom]])
*[[Military Cyber Medicine & Cyber Surgery Institute]] ([[Pretoria]])

====Area Military Health Formation====
*[[Area Military Health Unit Western Cape]]
*[[Area Military Health Unit Eastern Cape]]
*[[Area Military Health Unit Northern Cape]]
*[[Area Military Health Unit North-West]]
*[[Area Military Health Unit Free State]]
*[[Area Military Health Unit KwaZulu-Natal]]
*[[Area Military Health Unit Gauteng]]
*[[Area Military Health Unit Mpumalanga]]
*[[Area Military Health Unit Limpopo]]
*Regional Occupational Health and Safety Centres

====Military Health Training Formation====
*[[School for Military Health Training]]
*[[School for Military Training]]
*[[SAMHS Nursing College]]
*[[Bands of the South African National Defence Force|SAMHS Band]]
*[[Medical Command Post Combat Training Centre]] (Lohatla)
*[[Joint Physical Training, Sports & Recreation Training Centre]]

====Military Health Support Formation====
*[[Military Health Base Depot]]
*[[Military Health Procurement Unit]]

===General Support Base===
*[[Thaba Tshwane]]

===Directorates & Services===
*Director Medicine
*Chaplain Services
*Sport & Recreation
*Corporate Communication

==Ranks and insignia==
;Officers
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OF/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OF/South Africa Military Health Service}}
|}

;Other
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OR/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OR/South Africa Military Health Service}}
|}

===Proficiency Insignia===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:80%;" align="center;"
|+ SAMHS Proficiency Insignia
|-
! Scope="col" colspan="4" style="background:#CECFCE;"  |Proficiency insignia of the South African Military Health Service
|-
! scope="col"  style="width:50px;|Medical Doctor
! scope="col"  style="width:50px;|Dentist
! scope="col"  style="width:50px;|Nurse
! scope="col"  style="width:50px;|Ops Medic
|-
|<!--Col1 Row3--> |[[ File:SANDF SAMHS Medical Doctor chest insignia.jpg|center|x100px]]
|<!--Col2 Row3--> |[[ File:SANDF SAMHS Dentist chest insignia.jpg|center|x100px]]
|<!--Col3 Row3--> |[[ File:SANDF SAMHS Nurse chest insignia.jpg| center|x100px]]
|<!--Col4 Row3--> |[[ File:SANDF SAMHS Ops Medic chest insignia.jpg| center|x100px]]
|-
! scope="col"  |Pharmacist
! scope="col"  |Psychologist
! scope="col"  |Veterinarian
! scope="col"  |Social Work Officer
|-
|<!--Col1 Row5--> |[[ File:SANDF SAMHS Pharmacist chest insignia.jpg|center|x100px]]
|<!--Col2 Row5--> |[[ File:SANDF SAMHS Psychologist chest insignia.jpg| center|x100px]]
|<!--Col3 Row5--> |[[File:SANDF SAMHS Veterinarian chest insignia.jpg|center|x100px]]
|<!--Col4 Row5--> |[[ File:SANDF SAMHS Welfare Officer chest insignia.jpg|center|x100px]]
|-
! scope="col"  |Health Inspector
! scope="col"  |Ancillary Health
! scope="col"  |Farrier
! scope="col"  |Administrative
|-
|<!--Col1 Row7--> |[[ File:SANDF SAMHS Health Inspector chest insignia.jpg|center|x100px]]
|<!--Col2 Row7--> |[[ File:SANDF SAMS Ancillary Health chest insignia.jpg| center|x100px]] 
|<!--Col3 Row7--> |[[ File:SANDF SAMS Ferrier chest insignia.jpg |center|x100px]]
|<!--Col4 Row7--> |[[ File:SANDF SAMHS Administrative chest insignia.jpg|center|x100px]]
|}

== Leadership ==
{{Post-start|caption=South African Military Health Service Leadership|float=}}
{{Post-header|post-name=Surgeons General}}
{{Post-member|from-date=27 April 1994|post-incumbent=Lt Gen [[Daniel Knobel]] {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|SSAS|SD|SOE|SM|MMM|KStJ|MBC|HB|PHD}}|to-date=30 November 1997}}
{{Post-member|from-date=1 December 1997|post-incumbent=Lt Gen [[Davidson Masuku]] {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|SSAS|MMM|KStJ}}|to-date=30 September 2000}}
{{Post-member|from-date=1 October 2000|post-incumbent=Lt Gen [[Jurinus Janse van Rensburg]] {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|SD|SM|MMM|KStJ}}|to-date=31 July 2005}}
{{Post-member|from-date=1 August 2005|post-incumbent=Lt Gen [[Vejaynand Ramlakan]] {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|DMG|MMS|MMB|KStJ}}|to-date=31 March 2013}}
{{Post-member|from-date=1 April 2013|post-incumbent=Lt Gen [[Aubrey Sedibe]] {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|DMG|MMS|MMM|KStJ}}|to-date=31 October 2019}}
{{Post-member|from-date=1 November 2019|post-incumbent=Lt Gen [[Zola Dabula]] {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|OStJ}}|to-date=31 October 2021}}
{{Post-member|from-date=1 November 2021|post-incumbent=Lt Gen Ntshavheni Peter Maphaha {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|pscj|ensp}} [[OStJ]]|to-date=Incumbent}}
{{Post-end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Country study}}

{{SANDF}}
{{SAMHS}}
{{SA Surgeon General}}
{{South Africa topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Military of South Africa]]
[[Category:Military medical organizations]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1979]]