Advancing Non-Invasive Neurostimulation in South Africa
Founded to bridge modern clinical neuroscience and patient dignity, UPPS Wellness provides accredited Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Berea, Durban.
A New Standard in Mental Health Care
For decades, patients in South Africa diagnosed with major depression, debilitating anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders have had few choices beyond pharmaceutical medications. While medications help many, millions of patients experience severe treatment resistance, debilitating lethargy, metabolic weight gain, sexual dysfunction, or emotional blunting.
Until recently, the sole remaining alternative was electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) — an invasive inpatient procedure requiring general anaesthesia, muscle paralysis, and potential memory disruption.
UPPS Wellness was founded by Dr. Suntheren Pillay and Prof. Akash Anandraj to bring a proven, gentle third pathway to KwaZulu-Natal: FDA-cleared Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. TMS directly addresses the localized neurocircuitry of the brain, activating dormant cortical networks without circulating through the bloodstream or requiring sedation.
Dr. Suntheren Pillay • MBChB
As Medical Director of UPPS Wellness TMS Clinic, Dr. Suntheren Pillay leads all patient assessments, protocol definitions, and clinical oversight. With over 25 years of medical practice and healthcare leadership in South Africa, Dr. Pillay is committed to evidence-based innovation that puts patient well-being first.
In clinical partnership with Prof. Akash Anandraj, Dr. Pillay recognized that patients across Durban and KwaZulu-Natal were traveling to Cape Town or Johannesburg to access advanced neurostimulation. By establishing our dedicated TMS suite at 82 Mazisi Kunene in Berea, Dr. Pillay has made world-standard psychiatric neurotechnology accessible to the local community.
Every patient at UPPS Wellness benefits from direct medical oversight, ensuring individual treatment parameters are calibrated to their specific cortical physiology.
Our Clinical Guiding Principles
We adhere strictly to international clinical standards established by the Clinical TMS Society and the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
Physician-Led Safety
Every course begins with a thorough diagnostic evaluation to exclude contraindications, review medications, and establish individualized magnetic parameters.
Precision Mapping
Motor threshold calibration ensures the magnetic pulses target the precise cortical coordinates of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex at therapeutic levels.
Objective Metrics
We track clinical recovery continuously using standardized rating scales (PHQ-9 for depression, GAD-7 for anxiety, Y-BOCS for OCD) to ensure measurable progress.
Collaborative Care
We actively collaborate with your referring psychiatrist, general practitioner, and psychologist, providing detailed progress reports at regular intervals.
A Sanctuary for Mental Restoration
Traditional hospital psychiatry often feels clinical, cold, and stressful. At UPPS Wellness in Berea, we intentionally created an environment that feels welcoming, peaceful, and respectful.
Our treatment rooms are designed with natural light, ergonomic reclining medical seating, and ambient acoustics. Patients frequently spend their 20 to 30-minute sessions listening to audiobooks, relaxing music, podcasts, or meditating.
Because TMS produces no systemic fatigue or confusion, you step out of our clinic and return immediately to your daily life, your career, and your family.
