4 days ago
Young doctors and dentists offered free medical aid cover for a year
Young doctors and dentists making the tough transition from study to practice are eligible for 12 months of free medical aid cover from Profmed.
The medical scheme said eligible candidates must be under the age of 30, must have completed community service in the past two years and are either unemployed or have found work within the previous six months.
The initiative is linked to finDR, a digital platform launched by Profmed to connect newly qualified medical professionals with job placements across the country as locums and in permanent positions. More than 800 qualified doctors are on the platform.
'This isn't only about benefits,' said Profmed CEO Craig Comrie. 'It's about ensuring young professionals don't fall through the cracks.
'We've heard from far too many doctors who, after years of study and community service, are left without work, income or the ability to access private health care. That's unacceptable.'
This comes amid concerns about the pressure young doctors work under, prompting a call for healthcare professionals to recognise the risk of burnout and depression by Dr Bavi Vythilingum, a psychiatrist practising at a Netcare Akeso clinic in Kenilworth, Cape Town.
'It is deeply concerning that at least 50% to 60% of healthcare professionals will experience depression at some point during their working lives. Junior doctors are particularly vulnerable, and their risk for depression and burnout seems to be increasing.
'One of the factors that contributes to burnout is work overload as doctors are expected to do more and more within the same amount of time.
