The DA has proposed that the government allow medical practitioners-in-training to be placed at private health facilities for internship or community service in an effort to increase the talent pool and reduce the number of medical graduates sitting at home.
In a private members’ Bill gazetted last week and put forward by its health spokesperson Michele Clark, the party said medical practitioners should be able to apply to private as well as public facilities for placement.
The proposed Bill would be cost effective for the state and bring more people into a system desperately needing professional nurses and doctors, reports Business Day.
“Should a person be placed at a private health facility, that facility will cover the cost of employment, rather than the Department of Health… and a strong private-public partnership will develop in the healthcare sector,” according to the draft Bill.
The non-placement by the NDoH and the Internship and Community Service Placement (ICSP) of intern and community service medical practitioners has become a growing issue in SA, due to insufficiently funded posts in public health facilities.
Last month, it emerged that there was a shortfall of more than 200 community service posts for medical graduates in the upcoming 2025 annual cycle, meaning scores of newly qualified medical professionals will not have guaranteed placements for their mandatory community service.
Netcare has repeatedly warned that reliance on nurses over 50 and the failure to attract new nurses must be addressed urgently.
The public has 30 days to comment on the DA’s proposals, Clarke said.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Netcare again warns of SA’s critical nursing shortage
Nursing Council resists training of new nurses, despite dire shortage, HASA conference told
Minister tweaks community service posts to reduce shortfall
SA medical interns finally allocated in-service training places