Tshavhungwe, Tshifhiwa2025-03-282024Tshavhungwe, Tshifhiwa. (2024). Expanding and Enhancing Medical Testing Laboratories in rural areas of South Africa [Master’s dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg].WireDSpace.https://hdl.handle.net/10539/44482https://hdl.handle.net/10539/44482A research report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Administration to the Faculty of Commerce, Law, and Management, Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024This venture aims to establish medical laboratories in underserved rural areas of Vhembe district in Limpopo, South Africa in order to address the critical need for enhanced healthcare services in rural areas of South Africa. With a population of 1,653,077, Vhembe has about eight private labs in semi-urban areas, along with public hospital laboratories. The venture proposal is driven by the recognition of significant challenges faced by rural communities, including limited access to diagnostic testing facilities and prolonged turnaround times for test results. Limited access to laboratories impacts healthcare outcomes significantly (CDC, 2018). Healthcare laboratories aim to address this gap by providing advanced diagnostic services. The proximity of our labs to rural communities improves Turnaround Time (TAT) significantly, a crucial performance indicator for laboratories (Cassim et al., 2020). Local laboratories minimise reliance on external facilities, reducing transportation costs and logistical challenges as well as the need for sample referral which in turn improves TAT. This improves healthcare accessibility and streamlines diagnostic services (Coetzee et al., 2022)en© 2025 University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.Medical Testing LaboratoriesUCTDDissertationUniversity of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgSDG-8: Decent work and economic growth