Note to editors: Please find attached soundbite by Dr Imran Keeka MPL.
The DA in KZN has sent in parliamentary questions regarding the vacancies for medical doctors in the province. This is against the backdrop of medical doctors staging a sit-in outside the KZN Department of Health Head Office. Following similar action last year, 150 young doctors were absorbed into the system.
The taking-in of doctors last year was unplanned and the knock on budgetary effect is still felt today. In fact, the finances of the department have not improved to any level that will allow for the further intake of medical doctors to the extent that it was.
There has to be a balance. The health department has critical vacancies at all levels from physiotherapists, audiologists, speech therapists, paramedics, and dentists for example. The resignation of around 2550 nurses due to the `two-pot-system`has also had a critical impact on patient care across facilities from mobile clinics, clinics and hospitals.
With the employment of doctors last year, it is more crucial to work on the employment of nurses and other cited vacancies this year to create a balance in staff over time. This in no way diminishes the reality that the healthcare system is severely strained given the high disease burden of our province, and therefore the need for types of critical healthcare professionals, including doctors.
The employment of staff by the DoH is now subject to a Treasury process that will ensure that the DoH cannot arbitrarily take on staff without ensuring the availability of funds. This must be both noted as a positive step and welcomed to ensure a calculated balance of staff in the already mighty workforce of almost 64,000 people.
We are acutely aware that the staff shortages also significantly affect the most vulnerable and most rural communities. We will continue to raise the vacancies in the Health Portfolio Committee, and we will continue to keep a hawks eye on the budget and we will work to find accomplishable solutions within the state’s capacity.
The DA is committed to an ethical, capable and caring state through the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) in KZN that will work towards providing optimal healthcare. The people of KZN deserve this commitment.