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05 December 2021
The South African Medical Association is completely outraged by government’s failure to plan for junior doctor’s statutory placement.
The South African Medical Association is completely outraged by government’s failure to plan for junior doctor’s statutory placement.
Internship and community service are state imposed requirements as well as being part of medical training. A tremendous amount of time and finance has been invested in training these doctors. This cannot be utilised if they cannot practice and serve the nation.
South Africa has a dire shortage of medical professionals. According to Worldbank data we sit 130th in the world with 0,9 doctors per 1000 population. This may even be worse now due to recent emigration.
The State, through the Department of Health, should have known and planned for the these placements.
Ministers of both Health and Treasury should have incorporated these placements into the budget adjustments that were tabled in parliament last month. This is a huge priority for our country.
It's completely unacceptable that this late in the year government is claiming that there is not funding for interns and community service doctors. They have had 6 years to plan for this!
These young doctors cannot go and work for themselves( ie open private surgeries or join the private sector) due to the statutory requirements.
SAMA is insisting that government find the money for these placements, or risk facing the full might of the law. We intend to approach the courts, on an urgent basis, to force government to place all internship and community service doctors by latest the 16th of December 2021.
[ENDS]
Notes to Editors
About SAMA
The South African Medical Association was formally constituted on 21 May 1998 as a unification of a variety of doctors’ groups that had represented a diversity of interests. SAMA is a non-statutory, professional association for public, and private sector medical practitioners. SAMA is a voluntary membership association, existing to serve the best interests and needs of its members in any and all healthcare related matters.
Contact:
SAMA CEO
Dr Vusumuzi Nhlapho
079 033 8330
Email: vusumuzin@samedical.org
Spokesperson
Dr M Nodikida
082 523 0686
Email: tnodikida@yahoo.com
Spokesperson 2
Vice-Chairperson: SAMA
Dr M Mzukwa
076 382 8152
Email: mzukwam@gmail.com
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