The health department has told unemployed doctors to seek employment elsewhere even as there is a critical shortage of doctors, with hardly any doctors for 1 000 patients.
Shortage of medical doctors
In response to a parliamentary question In May last year, the Minister of Health Joe Phaahla announced that the doctor-to-patient ratio in the country is 1:3 per 198 patients and 0.31 doctors per 1,000 patients, and the number of doctors is decreasing. .
Spokesperson Foster Mohale said the health department is aware that there are medical doctors who are still trying to find employment after completing statutory community service.
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According to the National Health Act, the National Health Department – together with the provincial health department, takes responsibility for the placement of trainees and community service applicants.
‘A self-employed doctor’
However, Mohale said that medical doctors complete their community service, so they are free to find work in the workplace of their choice.
“Therefore, it is your responsibility to apply for positions in various hospitals under the jurisdiction of the provincial health department or in the private health sector. [the South African Medical Association Trade Union] appeal to a medical doctor who does not have employment based on false information.
“At no stage, the department is determined to find employment for medical doctors who have completed community service,” he said.
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In previous discussions with the union, the delegation was advised by the department to submit a full list of the unemployed doctors, full personal details and Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) registration details of each doctor.
Mohale said that the department will share the list with the province so that they can help in the work where they finance the vacant positions, but the union has not complied with the request and guidance.
‘Union is dishonest’
Mohale said there was no record of a planned march to Dr AB Xuma’s House headquarters in Pretoria on Thursday.
He said that he had been flagged on social media posters with the name of SAMATU trade union agitating for the march.
What is troubling, says Mohale, is the malicious prejudice that is partly cited as the reason for the march; that the department is committed to finding employment for doctors.
“It is therefore unethical for professional union leaders and democratic for medical practitioners to try and exploit the emotions of job seekers by providing them with false information,” said Mohale.
He said he remains committed to strengthening the health system through, among other things, ensuring adequate staffing for health facilities.
Mohale said this is why the minister continues to engage with the National Treasury to increase budget allocations so that the public health sector can fulfill its constitutional responsibilities.
Be careful
They do not support any actions that seek to disrupt health services and the department’s doors remain open to honest engagementfront
“Although everyone and any organization has the right to protest in public, the protest should not be based on false information.
“Leaders have the responsibility to represent their members honestly, faithfully and without distortion of facts. Involvement in finding solutions is always welcome to achieve a long and healthy life for all South Africans,” added Mohale.
The department explains that their responsibilities end after medical doctors complete their community service, so they are free to find employment of their choice.
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