GATEWAY PUBLIC CLINIC- CNR HENRY ELLIOT & NELSON MANDELA DR, MTHATHA

<p>I arrived at Gateway PUBLIC Clinic in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape at 15:20 pm on Monday the 10th October 2016, the waiting room was empty. There was no one at reception and I went to the nurse that I saw in the consulting room to inquire. She then told me that the lady ''with a stamp'' is nowhere to be found and I could not be assisted without A STAMP, please take note that the clinic is supposed to close at 16h30.</p> <p>So another person takes me to ''THEIR MANAGER'', so that I could be assisted. To my suprise the old lady SHOUTED at the top of her voice, complaining about having a high number of patients the whole day. So I then asked what time the clinic closes.....there was no direct answer, instead I was told to come back in the MORNING.....they emphasized on the morning part.</p> <p>When I asked what time their "reception" closes so that I could try and get there before that time, the lady just got defensive and started asking me where I work and where I come from. So I then asked whether the fact that I do not have a STAMP means that I will be turned back from the clinic without being assisted, within their operating hours. They did not even ask what my sickness was, they were just sitting there in one room and started discussing my issue as if I was not there. </p> <p><br /> What pains me is the fact that they were all in that room, not one of them thought of asking what the problem is, instead I'm treated like trash and questioned like I do not deserve healthcare. Is it not my right though? Was I to go back home with no medication simply because their receptionist was "missing", during business hours at that? It's 15:20, the waiting room is EMPTY, why is my medical assistance dependant on a STAMP? </p> <p> </p>