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The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has issued a critical call to President Cyril Ramaphosa, urging him to take immediate action to address a growing employment crisis within the healthcare sector. Over 1,800 junior doctors who have completed their qualifications are struggling to find work, while public hospitals across the country face severe staff shortages, leaving healthcare workers overwhelmed by unsustainable workloads.
SAMA warns that if the government fails to act, it risks losing more medical professionals to the private sector or emigration, potentially leading to the collapse of the public healthcare system. The association points to South Africa’s doctor-to-population ratio, which stands at just 0.3 per 1,000 people—far below the World Health Organization’s recommended ratio of at least 2.5 per 1,000.
To address the crisis, SAMA has called for an additional R2 billion in annual funding to create positions for medical officers and registrars. The country’s health budget has already faced significant cuts, and officials have confirmed that these financial constraints have impacted hiring at both the national and provincial levels. While the National Treasury allocated R267.3 billion for health in 2023/24, the 3.4% increase falls short of the forecast inflation rate of 4.7%.
Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi acknowledged the budget issues, explaining that without sufficient funding, the government cannot hire more doctors. However, he pointed to the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme as a long-term solution to balance healthcare services, despite its rollout being projected to begin in 2028. The NHI plan faces multiple legal challenges, casting doubt on its feasibility.
While SAMA acknowledges the financial limitations, it suggests that the government could secure the needed funding by reallocating provincial health budgets, improving revenue collection, reducing administrative costs, and addressing corruption within the system. The association has stressed the need for swift action to prevent further deterioration of the healthcare system.
