Vacancy rates for doctors range from 22.4% in the Free State to 5.5% in the Western Cape, and for nurses, from 28% in the Free State to 5% in the Eastern Cape, placing huge strain on staff and increasing patient waiting times, and with no relief in sight.
The figures were revealed in a written response from Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to ActionSA MP Kgosi Lelape, in which he said the the budget cuts implemented by the Treasury had hobbled provincial Health Departments’ ability to fill posts, with all provinces battling to deliver services with fewer doctors, nurses and senior managers.
Motsoaledi said more than two-fifths of the senior management positions in the Northern Cape were unfilled, while the Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga have reported that about a quarter of their posts for senior managers were unfilled.
BusinessLIVE reports that the February budget set aside a consolidated health budget that grows by a nominal 3.4% over the medium term – below the Treasury’s estimate that inflation would average 4.7% over the next three years, meaning the budget shrinks in real terms.
Decisions about whether to fill vacant posts were considered monthly, the Minister said.
“Not all vacant posts can be filled simultaneously. This has resulted in stringent measures being implemented to control the filling of positions to avoid over expenditure on compensation of employees.”
The reduction in headcount had increased the workload for remaining staff, leading to higher stress levels and decreased job satisfaction, Motsoaledi added.
Additionally, departments also faced the further challenge of the country’s shortage of certain professional categories, including ophthalmologists, psychiatrists, theatre nurses and ICU nurses.
Letlape said the high vacancy rates did not reveal the number of doctors and nurses needed by the local population.
“What is the gap between needed posts and funded posts? The funded posts are just those they (provincial Health Departments) have budgeted for. If you have a 5% gap in funded posts, but a 50% gap between needed and funded posts, (it is) woefully inadequate for your responsibilities,” he said.
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