More than 21000 specialist medical personnel posts are vacant
25 April 2022
The DA calls on the Department of Health to present solutions on filling vacancies for nurses and medical specialists as a matter of utmost urgency.
In a Parliamentary Question it was revealed that South Africa currently has a vacancy rate of 18.6% for specialist medical personnel and 13.7% for nurses. The province worst effected is the Free State, with a vacancy rate of 25.3%.The total number of vacancies for nurses is 21 453.
When looking at vacancies for specialist medical personnel, the province with the highest number is the Northern Cape, at a staggering 46 %. Vacancy rates as high as this undoubtedly affect the provision of quality healthcare.
The DA-led Western Cape represents the lowest vacancy rate for both nurses, at 5.5% and specialist medical personnel, sitting at 9.2%.