Hundreds of new health jobs to be filled in province

THE Eastern Cape Department of Health is poised to hire hundreds of new medical staff, including 133 medical interns.

Spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said more than 400 health staff would be hired by the department by the end of April.

Among them would be 81 community service doctors as well as 89 medical officers who had completed their community service.

Posts would also include clinical associates, pharmacy interns, physiotherapists and radiographers.

Special attention would be paid to under-serviced areas including rural and district hospitals.

Kupelo said health services staff were overloaded and the new positions would bring relief.

“Members of the public will definitely benefit because they will now receive fast service given the additional workforce.”

Kupelo said the medical interns would go to Livingston Hospital in Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage hospitals, Frere Hospital in East London and Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha.

There would also be new staff in speech and audiologist services, clinical psychologist services and environmental health services

The Eastern Cape is the province that has struggled the most to attract doctors for community service despite its severe shortage.

This is because rural areas are still the last choice for doctors who list where they want to work.

National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union provincial secretary Miki Jaceni said the new jobs were appreciated.

But he questioned whether 400 new posts would be enough, bearing in mind provincial needs. DA MPL Celeste Barker welcomed the new jobs. “It is fantastic that medical graduates are being placed in the province. It will ease the burden on staff in our facilities.

“The community will also benefit,” she said.