JOHANNESBURG - Health Minister Joe Phaahla says they are optimistic that the department's interventions are working.
This is while the health workers' strike intensifies.
Phaahla says that they have seen an improvement in conditions on Thursday.
However, it is still too early to be comfortable with the situation.
"My own assessment in consultation with various colleagues in different provinces gives an impression that there is some improvement if you compare where we were yesterday," says Phaahla.
"Just if we take Gauteng as an example. As you would know, when I came from Parliament last night I went straight into Charlotte Maxeke where there had been almost a 90 percent stoppage," he says.