Limpopo Health is to terminate the contracts of more than 150 community service doctors and other professionals at the end of the month because of dire financial constraints in the province. The Citizen reports that other professionals include 450 nurses and other allied workers who cannot be “absorbed” into the system. Some of the doctors include those who were sent to study in Cuba at the government’s expense.
This comes at a time when the department was allocated a further R135m during the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF).
The report says the termination of contracts was a major focal point during a march by health professionals in Polokwane on Monday.
Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba blamed the inadequate funding of the health sector in the country for the decision to terminate the contracts. She said the situation was not only confined to Limpopo and that an urgent meeting was convened with national health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize last week.
The report says doctors and nurses are concerned that the medico-legal claims may sky rocket due to the lay-offs. The province is facing more R8bn in claims.
[link url="https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/health/2217521/concerns-raised-over-termination-of-community-doctor-contracts-in-limpopo/"]The Citizen report[/link]