I’ve found that most doctors only treat symptoms without taking the time to find the root cause. Lately it feels like they’re just pill pushers.
Honestly, finding a good doctor feels like a lottery these days! Word of mouth is your best bet, ask friends or family who they trust and actually like going to. A good sign is a doctor who asks questions beyond just your immediate complaint and actually listens to your answers without glancing at the clock.
You’re spot on about the pill pusher problem, a lot of it comes down to the system unfortunately. Doctors are often overloaded with patients and have maybe 10–15 minutes per consultation, so deep-dive conversations about root causes just don’t happen.
Look for a doctor who practices functional or integrative medicine if root cause is important to you, they tend to dig deeper.
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Word of mouth has honestly been the only reliable method for me, too. My current GP in Sandton came recommended by a colleague, and the difference is night and day compared to the practice I went to before where you felt like a number on a list. She actually remembers what we discussed last time, which shouldn’t feel remarkable but somehow does.
One thing I’d add is don’t be afraid to try someone once and then move on if it doesn’t feel right. It took me three different doctors before I found one who treated me like a whole person rather than a presenting complaint. Has anyone found a good general practitioner in the northern suburbs worth recommending? Always good to have a backup option.
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Picking the right hospital can also be important, especially if you are relying on public ones.
For Jo’burg I recommend Edenvale Hospital. (Not sure re larger operations.)
Also, Florida Clinic in the west was good years ago, had a semi-serious op there.
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Word of mouth has been everything for us in Durban too. My family has been with the same GP in Overport for almost eight years now, and we only found him because my sister’s neighbour kept raving about him. He’s the kind of doctor who actually asks how your kids are doing before getting to the reason you came in, and that warmth matters so much when you’re already stressed and not feeling well.
What I’ve also learned is don’t feel guilty about leaving a practice that doesn’t feel right. As a school admin, I deal with parents all the time who feel trapped with a doctor they don’t fully trust, and you really do have the right to move on. Finding someone who treats you like a person and not a fifteen minute slot makes such a difference. 
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