Lerato Mbhiza
THE Limpopo Department of Health has hired 333 medical experts in an effort to improve the province’s delivery of healthcare services and the new recruits were welcomed by Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba at an induction ceremony at the Bolivia Lodge, Polokwane.
Among the healthcare workers are medical officers, professional nurses, pharmacists, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists, diagnostic radiographers, and Emergency Medical Service station managers.
In her address, Dr Ramathuba said the healthcare professionals would enhance the healthcare system and improve service delivery.
Ramathuba said that all the newly-appointed personnel will undergo a 12-month probationary period and will be considered for permanent employment upon its completion.
“We will be getting reports about your code of conduct during the 12-months probation period,” she warned.
Ramathuba urged the new recruits to take care of the patients and encouraged them to work hard so that they could grow fast in their field of work.
“I will also pray for you, so that you grow in your careers. You are starting today as a permanent employee, you can grow faster. Whether you become a manager, a pharmacy manager, a specialist medical doctor, or a nurse manager.”
Almost a 1000 unemployed healthcare workers including medical practitioners went on a countrywide protest earlier this year and Health Minister Joe Phaahla promised that the government would be working tirelessly to ensure unemployed doctors who want to join the public service are placed by 1 April.
Phaahla was reported as saying 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”.
He promised that a governmental national team was working with the National Treasury team to thrash out the details and expedite the process.
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