Question NW3039 to the Minister of Health
11 October 2023 - NW3039
Shaik Emam, Mr AM to ask the Minister of Health
What measures have been put in place to (a) ensure that all medical graduates who have completed their community services are placed at relevant health facilities and (b) address the difficulty doctors experience in being allowed to write their board examinations to be integrated into the medical field of the Republic so that they can contribute effectively to the health of the people?
Reply:
a) 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 platform is available for all eligible South African Citizens and Permanent Residents for medical internship and community service and after qualifying for independent practice, doctors are allowed 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.
b) The National Department of Health has been working with the HPCSA throughout the process to ensure that all South African Citizens who studied abroad are eligible and given a fair opportunity to sit for the Medical Board examinations.
Following engagements with HPCSA, the Department can now confirm that the next schedule of exams will be held as follows:
- Theory Medical Board examinations: 25 October 2023.
- Practical/OSCE Medical Board examinations: Planned between 05 and 08 December 2023.
- HPCSA has since invited applicants who meet the requirements for these examinations.
END.