Ubuntu philosophy as a framework for medical team collaboration: a case study of a public hospital in South Africa

The philosophy of Ubuntu is rooted in the African maxim ‘I am because we are.’ Ubuntu emphasizes interconnectedness and collective responsibility. This research set to analyse how this principle provided a valuable framework for addressing mental healthcare in South African contexts, where holistic care is imperative to healing. This article explores the potential of Ubuntu as a guiding philosophy for fostering collaboration among healthcare professionals for mental healthcare through a qualitative case study approach at a provincial hospital in the Eastern Cape. Collaborative care in mental health involves multidisciplinary teams (MTD) working together to provide comprehensive care for mentally ill patients. This can be achieved by integrating various healthcare professionals, including nurses, social workers, psychologists, medical officers, pharmacists, psychiatrist, and clinical psychologists to provide care. Reviving Ubuntu values in mental healthcare teams could enhance mental healthcare by emphasising the importance of humanness and collective teamwork. This paper contends that adopting a collaborative approach using the principles of Ubuntu is crucial for improving mental health outcomes. This study employed a qualitative case approach to explore the identified issue. Two methods of data collection were used, focus group discussions, and observation whereby data was analysed thematically. Findings revealed that collaborative teamwork between treatment team members is essential for effective mental healthcare in South Africa.