Multi-million rand investment for unemployed doctors
The KwaZulu-Natal legislature has allocated R150 million towards the recruitment of healthcare workers.
The funding will be channeled towards the creation of 270 jobs at state hospitals, including doctors, nurses and data capturers.
Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli made this announcement late last week following a provincial cabinet meeting that addressed concerns surrounding the issue of unemployed medical doctors in KwaZulu-Natal.
The healthcare system are in need of doctors, yet there are many doctors who are unemployed in the province.
'Our province cannot afford to let skilled professionals sit idle while communities desperately need healthcare services. This investment is about restoring dignity to our health system and hope to our people, Premier Ntuli in a statement.
In recent years there has been a wave of criticism and protest by newly qualified doctors who complained about their unemployment status, despite a need for their services at hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health advertised 20 medical officer vacancies in the province. These vacancies were in the districts of eThekwini, Harry Gwala, King Cetshwayo, Ugu, uMgungundlovu, uThukela and Zululand.
The department was overwhelmed by 3167 applications for only 20 posts, a stark reminder of the high unemployment rate among medical personnel.
The successful candidates will commence duties by 15 September.
In January this year Newsroom Africa reported that unemployed doctors staged a protest outside the premiers office to highlight their plight.
The unemployed doctors have been campaigning since last year for employment within the state health system that faces a shortage of personnel.
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