Lerato Mbhiza
THE government lacks enough doctors to meet the needs of patients who rely on public hospitals and clinics, but cannot afford to hire more, health minister Joe Phaahla conceded on Monday.
The minister said his department has also been affected by budget cuts as the state looks to curb spending.
About 1,000 doctors who completed community service in 2023 are unemployed, according to Akhtar Hussain, chair of the employed doctors’ forum of the SA Medical Association (Sama).
Some of the desperate doctors have taken to social media to highlight their plight where they are sitting at home unemployed while the public health sector is crumbling under the strain of not having enough doctors.
Dr Phaahla held a public briefing to address the ongoing public outcry around this, after a number of qualified doctors affiliated to unions staged a protest in Tshwane last month, where they marched from Heartfelt
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