IFP urges immediate action to address doctor unemployment crisis in SA

8 January 2024

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) calls for immediate attention for the doctor unemployment crisis. This is no ordinary crisis but reality to the already deteriorating healthcare system.

With the reveal of the recent statistics that highlight the low patient-doctor ratio. The IFP calls for the Minister of health, Dr Joe Phaahla to consider this crisis as a matter of urgency.

Not only does this crisis strain the healthcare system but impacts public health risks and economic contribution.

In 2022 Dr Joe Phaahla revealed that the patient-doctor ratio was 1:3198 compared to the recommended ratio of 1:1000 by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This ratio is of concern as it continues to worsen.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the disparities of our healthcare system. The failure to allocate unemployed South African doctors but Cuban doctors pin-pointed that there are possible funds that can be allocated for the unemployed doctors in South Africa.

This dire crisis needs equitable, comprehensive, and strategic reforms that will not only address the immediate crisis but rather the continued support within the healthcare system and the imbalances that continue to fall short in the South African Healthcare system.

Issued by Mkhuleko Hlengwa, National Spokesperson, IFP, 8 January 2024