Despite the critical staff shortages in the public healthcare system, at least 1 400 qualified doctors are still unemployed, according to the South African Medical Association Trade Union, which is urging the government to find posts for them, reports EWN.
Samatu general secretary Dr Cedric Sihlangu said delays in employing local doctors was adding even more pressure to state facilities.
“The country needs more doctors, and this issue of their unemployment – and healthcare workers, by and large – is unwarranted,” he said. “The government has been very sluggish in its efforts to deal with thie problem.”
Sihlangu rejected claims that budget constraints were the main obstacle, saying that funding for doctors was actually allocated but was often redirected by provinces to other priorities.
The union warned that continued delays to hire them was undermining healthcare delivery.
“A couple of weeks ago in Parliament, the Minister of Finance indicated that money has been allocated for their employment … but when the money arrives, the provinces deal with it as they deem fit in terms of the equitable share, and repurpose those funds for other issues.
“Clearly, there is no one willing and prepared to take accountability for health delivery in this country. The government is not showing any signs that it’s really determined to make real decisions when it comes to health …. it is the citizens who will eventually have to decide what should happen to a government that doesn’t take this seriously.”
EWN article – AMATU calls for urgent hiring of hundreds of unemployed doctors (Restricted access)
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