If you run a private healthcare practice, pharmacy or wellness centre, winter is never business as usual. And 2025 is shaping up to be especially tough. Experts are warning of a severe flu and respiratory season, with more patients expected, longer queues, and growing pressure on private medical providers to step up when public systems fall short.

You’re going to need more medicine. More stock. More staff. And more space. But here’s the real question: Are you ready?

Explore: How to Prepare Your Pharmacy for Seasonal Health Trends

We work with medical professionals just like you. And we know the difference that access to fast, flexible funding can make in a high-demand season. In this guide, we’ll unpack why 2025’s winter flu surge matters, how it will impact private healthcare providers, and how to put plans (and funding) in place before you’re caught on the back foot.

The 2025 flu wave isn’t business as usual

This isn’t your typical seasonal sniffle. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has already flagged a concerning early rise in flu and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) cases, with school outbreaks and workplace clusters spreading earlier and faster than usual. Combine that with lower vaccine uptake, colder temperatures, and post-pandemic complacency, and you’ve got a perfect storm.

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For private healthcare providers, this means a spike in demand for everything from consultations and testing to medication and oxygen therapy. Pharmacies will need to stock up ahead of time. Clinics will need to manage higher volumes of patients with the same resources. And wellness practitioners will face increased demand for immune boosters, supplements, and personalised health plans.

You don’t want to be scrambling for resources when the wave hits.

Download our free guide: Prescription for Prosperity – How Strategic Funding Ensures Healthy Returns for SA’s Medical Practices

Stockouts in private practice mean lost revenue and reputational damage

Let’s be real. If your shelves are empty, your patients will go elsewhere. So, stockouts not only cost you money, they cost you patient trust. One missed script. One essential med you don’t have on hand. That’s all it takes for a patient to walk out the door and not come back.

We’ve seen too many healthcare providers pay the price for not being prepared, especially in a high-influx season like this. If you rely on just-in-time ordering, outdated inventory systems, or you hope last year’s supplier timelines will hold, you could be in trouble.

Now is the time to bulk order flu vaccines, viral treatments, respiratory support products, PPE, and over-the-counter cough and cold medication. And that often means more capital than you have on hand.

See for yourself: Affordability calculator

The cost of hiring and training seasonal support staff

Your core team can only do so much. In a crisis season, you may need locums, extra pharmacists, nurses, admin staff or call centre support to keep things moving. But hiring takes time and money. And even temporary staff still need onboarding, training, uniforms, and systems access.

If you wait until you’re swamped to bring in help, it’s already too late. Plan now, and access alternative business funding to bridge the gap. This way, you can build a high-performing seasonal team that’s ready to hit the ground running.

We’ve helped clinics and practices across the country do just that, without tying up working capital or sacrificing other areas of their business.

Upgrading your equipment? You’re not alone

With more severe cases expected this winter, many private providers are considering upgrades to diagnostic tools, testing capacity, oxygen concentrators, and even mobile triage units. But these aren’t cheap. And traditional loans? They take too long and come with too many strings.

That’s where we come in. At Merchant Capital, we offer flexible, fast business funding specifically designed for South African medical practices. That includes professionals like you.

We don’t do red tape. We don’t ask you to remortgage your house. We just give you access to funding that matches your cash flow and helps you take advantage of opportunities, like preparing for the coming surge, when it matters most.

You might be interested in this quick read: Boost Your Medical Practice’s Bottom Line with These 5 Strategies

Manage cash flow through supplier bottlenecks and delayed payments

It’s not only demand that spikes in winter. So do delays. Suppliers get overwhelmed. Payments get pushed out. And if you work with medical aids or corporates, reimbursement timelines can stretch even further.

You still need to pay your staff. You still need to keep the lights on. And you still need to keep treating patients. Our funding solutions are built to match your business cycles, so you can stay cash flow positive, even when the money coming in is delayed.

This is your window to prepare

We get it. You’re busy. But what you do next could make or break your winter season. Don’t wait for shelves to empty or queues to back up before you act. The time to prepare is now.

Here’s what funding for medical practitioners from Merchant Capital allows you to do:

• Order critical flu and cold stock before suppliers are overwhelmed
• Hire and train seasonal support staff to meet patient demand
• Upgrade testing and treatment equipment
• Digitise patient booking and consultation systems
• Build cash flow resilience through delays and reimbursement lags

We work with thousands of business owners across South Africa, including a growing number in the healthcare space. We understand the pressure you’re under, the seasonality of your work, and the importance of staying ahead—especially when lives (and livelihoods) are at stake.

Apply now and get funded fast

Your patients can’t afford to wait. And neither can your practice.

Get ahead of the 2025 flu and respiratory crisis with flexible business funding from Merchant Capital.

Apply online in minutes. No red tape. No lengthy approvals.

Just fast, reliable funding tailored to the needs of South African healthcare professionals.

Ready to prepare? Let’s talk.

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FAQs

What are the medical interventions for the flu?
Flu treatment typically includes antiviral medications, over-the-counter symptom relief, rest, and hydration. In more severe cases, especially with vulnerable patients, hospitalisation and respiratory support may be required. We provide funding for private healthcare providers to increase stock levels of antivirals, immune boosters, and PPE to stay ahead of demand.

What are the guidelines for healthcare workers with the flu?
Healthcare workers showing flu symptoms are generally advised to stay home until they are no longer contagious to avoid spreading infection to patients and colleagues. Facilities are also encouraged to implement infection control protocols, including masking and sanitisation. From a business perspective, this means accessing financing from Merchant Capital to make provision for staff shortages and ensuring your team has the support and backup it needs.

How do you prepare for the flu season?
You prepare by stocking up on flu-related medication, training staff, updating infection control protocols, and making sure you’ve got the equipment and capacity to meet patient demand. You also need to secure your cash flow so you can respond quickly and confidently. That’s where our flexible funding can help, ensuring your practice is ready before the peak hits.

What is interprofessional care for influenza?
Interprofessional care involves coordinated treatment between GPs, pharmacists, nurses, respiratory specialists, and allied health professionals to ensure patients receive holistic support. As demand surges, this collaboration becomes essential for efficiency and quality care. We provide funding that enables private providers to expand and coordinate these care networks, whether that means hiring, tech upgrades, or extending clinic hours.