Allocations of 2021 Internship and Community Service Midyear cycle

It is sad to have to write such a statement during a time where our country is going through a third wave of infections in the COVID-19 pandemic. A pandemic which requires as many hands as possible to help on the ground.

The Internship and Community Service Programme (ICSP) has failed to place junior doctors for the midyear cycle of 2021. We are extremely disappointed with this outcome as not only does it affect the health of the nation; it also negatively impacts the livelihoods of the affected doctors.

We have, for the better part of four years, been engaging with the ICSP to ensure the timeous placement of junior doctors. We have alerted them of the potential future challenges that the programme would be facing if the issue of funding is not sorted out. Ultimately there has not been enough movement and preparation in this regard and unfortunately it means doctors continue to sit at home.

Internship and community service are statutory posts required as an additional form of training by the Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA). Because of this, it means the that the unfortunate doctors have no means of securing an income without having completed their training. They are stuck in a state of limbo.

We once again urge the Departments of Health and Treasury to avail funds for the placement of all statutory health workers. We would like to urge them to also consider that the number of doctors who are qualifying each year is growing and that they need to take into account when allocating funds. Failing which, this issue will spill over to the annual cycle for the placement of doctors for 2022.

Furthermore, we would like to state, unequivocally, that as the Junior Doctors’ Association of South Africa we do not agree or stand by the sentiments that doctors who happen to enter the midyear cycle do it by choosing to fail or participating in extracurricular activities which take their focus away from their studies.

We understand and empathise with all students regarding challenges faced during their undergraduate studies. We understand that at times life happens, our mental health gets challenged, sometimes we may fall ill and oftentimes there are financial challenges that hamper our ability to complete medical school successfully.

WE STRIVE TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR JUNIOR DOCTORS AND ALL THE CHALLENGES WE FACE.

WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP.

ALUTA CONTINUA COLLEAGUES.

Dr Tshepile Tlali
Acting Chairperson
Junior Doctors’ Association of South Africa
073 865 3773