Doctors’ unemployment described as a ticking time bomb

The South African Medical Association Trade Union (Samatu) says the unemployment of young doctors in the country is a ticking time bomb. 

The union, joined by Cosatu and the ANC Youth League (ANCYL), descended on the offices of National Treasury in Pretoria, demanding that unemployed healthcare workers be absorbed by the public sector.

At the forefront of the protest were unemployed young medics, who say they’ve been struggling to find jobs in the public healthcare sector despite the critical shortages of medical professionals.

In April last year, there were 2 000 vacant posts for medical doctors in the country, despite the unemployment scourge within the industry.

The General Secretary of Samatu, Dr Cedrick Sihlangu, has warned that government’s failure to address the matter will see critically skilled professionals flocking out of the country — disproportionately affecting the poor. 

“We are not just talking about numbers; we are talking about lives,” Dr. Sihlangu explained. 

For her part, Cosatu President, Zingiswa Losi, warned government that the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act would fail unless the government addresses severe staff shortages and dilapidated infrastructure at hospitals. 

ANCYL President, Collen Malatjie, described the lack of jobs for skilled professionals as embarrassing.

“We are told it’s only a selected few who are able to qualify for these courses. It’s embarrassing to the education system, to the youth and to the country that there can be a doctor who’s unemployed,” he said. 

The protesters have given the government seven days to respond to their demands or face a potential national shutdown. 

It remains to be seen whether government will finally heed the call of the healthcare professionals as the Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, recently told journalists that government does not have the money to hire the medics.