COMRADES MEDICAL TRANSPORT FOR RUNNERS

In line with putting Runners First, and prioritising the health, safety and wellbeing of all participants, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has extensive medical provisions in place for Comrades race day on Sunday, 9 June 2024.

As an added measure, a bus service will be provided for athletes who have been taken by Netcare ambulance to St Augustine’s Hospital in Durban, i.e. runners requiring medical treatment before halfway and are not admitted to hospital. The bus will make one trip to the finish venue at the HollywoodBets Scottsville Racecourse, leaving the hospital between 14h30 and 15h00.

CMA Medical Convenor, Dr Jeremy Boullter says, “We are pleased to be offering this service to all athletes in this year’s Comrades Marathon who may require any medical attention in the first half of the race. These are usually few and far between but the aim is to provide a wholesome service to the athlete and ensure their safety on the day.”

NOTE: Regarding medical treatment at Netcare St. Augustine’s Hospital, Umhlanga Hospital and St. Anne’s Hospital, runners with Medical Aid will be charged at Medical Aid rates while runners without Medical Aid will be treated free of charge for a maximum of 24 hours.

This ONLY applies to runners transported by Netcare ambulance from the route or referred from the medical facility at the finish. It does not apply to runners who make their own way there after finishing the race.

If a runner has a serious medical problem that will need more than 24 hours hospital care and does not have Medical Aid, that runner may be transferred to a Provincial hospital after 24 hours, at the discretion of the relevant hospital management.
We assure runners that the standard of medical care which has been provided by the Comrades Marathon over the years will not be compromised.