Government must prioritise placement of 200 qualified doctors in light of third wave

21 June 2021

The DA calls on the Department of Health to urgently come forward with a clear plan to address the chronic challenges preventing the efficient placement of community service doctors.

We have been inundated with various concerns by many community service doctors and interns throughout the year. Many have not been placed, are awaiting placement or have been placed in locations where families need to be separated.

According to a report by The Citizen more than 200 qualified doctors are still waiting for jobs. We are well into the third wave of the Covid pandemic and therefore have a health environment that is desperate for health workers.

Government has used the lack of funds as an additional excuse for not absorbing qualified doctors into the system, yet this report coincides with a recent parliamentary question, that the ANC government has spent close to R1 billion on a 10-year-long agreement, deploying Cuban health practitioners to South Africa.

Given the money spent on Cuban doctors, government cannot use this poor excuse. It also knew exactly how many and by when these doctors would have graduated. The Department must work closely with Treasury to ensure timeous and proper implementation of funds. South African doctors are struggling to make ends meet or to be placed to assist in the fight against this pandemic.

The Department must prioritise the absorption of community service doctors and interns as soon as possible as they can play a crucial role in the fight against Covid.

Statement issued by Haseena Ismail MP - DA Member on the Portfolio Committee of Health, 21 June 2021