The South African Health Minister, Dr. Joe Phaahla, has announced that the government is committed to placing unemployed doctors who wish to join the public service by 1 April this year. The move comes amidst widespread concern over the unemployment of doctors who have completed statutory community service programs.
“I am, therefore, happy to announce that working with the Minister of Finance we have a solution to address the current challenge of doctors who want to stay in the public service but could not be offered funded posts,” said the Minister.
During the debate on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), Phaahla assured that the Finance Minister would provide more details on how these posts will be funded in his upcoming Budget Speech. He expressed confidence that some provinces would be able to start issuing appointment letters before the 1st of April.
Phaahla highlighted the significant increase in the number of medical graduates in recent years, attributing this to the government’s efforts to ramp up doctor training. He emphasized the importance of retaining healthcare professionals in the public health system, expressing commitment to working with medical associations and trade unions to create more opportunities for doctors, including in the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI).
Speaking about the NHI, Phaahla acknowledged the vital role of government interventions in laying the groundwork for its implementation. He expressed gratitude to the members of both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces for passing the NHI Bill and outlined the phased implementation plan.
Phaahla also addressed the ongoing recovery of the health sector from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. He cited positive indicators such as improved life expectancy, reduced maternal and infant mortality rates, and efforts to address backlogs in surgical procedures. The Minister also highlighted the stabilization of medicine procurement and distribution, as well as plans to upgrade health service quality through infrastructure improvements as outlined in the President’s SONA.
