Question NW2808 to the Minister of Health
22 September 2023 - NW2808
Shaik Emam, Mr AM to ask the Minister of Health
What are the latest developments in his department with regard to medical graduates who have completed community service and remain unemployed, as he had previously indicated that he was in talks with the Minister of Finance, Mr E Godongwana, for funding to employ such medical graduates?
Reply:
To date from January 2023, a total of 3 974 posts of medical doctors were advertised and filled as compared to 2 053 medical doctors posts of the previous year (2022) for the same periods of employment. This means that an additional 1 921 posts for medical doctors were funded to accommodate unemployed medical doctors.
It is also acknowledged that not all unemployed medical doctors after completing community service, applied for these positions due to their different personal interests (e.g. Preference of urban areas rather than rural).
It remains the obligation for the Department of Health to ensure that sufficient employment is available for all eligible South African Citizens and Permanent Residents for medical internship and community service. This is to enable them to fulfil the legal requirements to qualify for independent practice, after which they can to seek employment either in public or private sector.
The National Department of Health remains accessible/open to refer unemployed medical doctors, either individually or through their Associations, to Provinces for recruitment to available funded posts.
END.