Foreign-trained doctors take to the streets over registration headache

Unemployed medical graduates will be heading to the streets of the nation’s capital this morning.

The move follows years, of what they say, has been a fight to get their international qualifications recognised by the local Health Professions Council (HPCSA).

Most of the graduates, who studied in Russia, say they have struggled to obtain their local medical licenses because their training is not recognised in the country.

One of the frustrated doctors, Hamilton Sikhosana, says their attempts to get the attention of government have so far being futile. 

Protestors will meet at Church Square before making their way to the HPCSA Arcadia offices.

The march will end at the Union Buildings, where a memorandum of demands will be handed over to government officials.

The graduates’ march comes amid concerns over the shortage of healthcare workers at South Africa’s public hospitals.

Last year, the Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, told Parliament that there was less than one doctor (0.8 doctors) to treat 1 000 patients.

He was answering a parliamentary question from the Democratic Alliance (DA).

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has blamed this shortage on poor planning.