Dreadful doctor-to-patient ratio, yet many medics jobless

THE medical profession is a sought-after job segment in South Africa. But that may change soon. Like their engineering counterparts, doctors too stare at educated unemployment.

The Department of Health’s refusal to post qualified doctors across the country is taking a toll on our health-care delivery system.

We suffer from a dreadful doctor-to-patient ratio. Several communities and districts do not have medical doctors to serve them, while strained manpower languishes at home.

Having unemployed doctors does not make sense in a country where there is such a shortage of doctors.

We have well qualified, fully trained and ready to work new graduates who can’t give back to society because of factors outside their control.

Doctors are currently unemployed after applying multiple times to the department to start their compulsory year of community service.

Where does our Minister of Health want doctors to work? The private sector does not want to hire them due to the lack of experience and experience is gained in the public sector who refuses to hire them. E Peek Glenwood, Durban