270 doctors are hired after 800 jobless practitioners filed petition
THE national Ministry of Health has confirmed that out of the 800 unemployed doctors who petitioned the Department of Health for vacancies, 270 have been appointed across the country.
This week, Foster Mohale, spokesperson for the National Health Department and Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, told Independent Media they were unable to confirm how many doctors had been placed in designated provinces but that the placement process was moving forward.
“The process of advertisement and recruitment of medical doctors and other health professionals is ongoing.
“So far, about 270 have been appointed. More appointments will be announced in instalments,” he said.
Mohale added that funding was also an issue that was being ironed out.
“Remember, we had to first activate vacant unfunded posts and identify facilities where there is a need for more health professionals to meet the demand for healthcare services.
“So, this is an ongoing process,” he said.
Earlier this year, Phaahla announced that they would be hiring hundreds of unemployed doctors who had completed their community service training.
At the time, IOL reported that Phaahla said Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana would pan out the budget.
DA health spokesperson Michele Clarke said that despite the promises being made, the unemployment figure still remained high, placing a burden on doctors at state hospitals.
“At the start of this year, 800 unemployed doctors petitioned the department for a job, and despite the minister of health’s promises that the national Budget would provide funding, his claims proved to be baseless,” she said.
“Vacancy rates remain high, while overtime pay for medical personnel faces drastic cuts.
“While our healthcare system is already on its knees, there will be further staff shortages, particularly during night shifts, weekends, and public holidays, when casualties tend to increase,” said Clarke.
Mohale said a public statement would be released once more vacancies had been filled.
Clarke said the provincial national health insurance grant has been lowered from R695 billion in the past year to R456bn.
“Further, NHI (National Health Insurance) grants have been shifted to public health oncology services.”
Priscilla Sekhonyana of the Health Professions Council of South Africa told Independent Media their office was unable to comment because they did not deal with labour disputes or vacancies and employment.
In KZN, more than a 100 doctors marched and handed over a petition and their curriculum vitae to the Department of Health earlier this year.