The Free State Department of Health has appointed 61 new doctors as part of ongoing efforts to enhance medical services and address the healthcare needs of communities across the province.
The appointment of these doctors comes amidst persistent challenges faced by the healthcare sector. The new medical personnel is expected to alleviate strain on existing healthcare facilities and improve patient care.
“Delivery of quality healthcare requires adequate professionals. Between April and December 2023, an additional 245 doctors, 218 nurses, 65 allied professionals, 15 pharmacists and 848 nonclinical staff were employed. A further 61 doctors, who have completed their community services, will be appointed with effect from 1 March,” Free State Premier Mxolisi Dukwana said.
He also spoke about the e-health strategy that was introduced in November. The Bophelo Mobile app for ambulance requests, Electronic Recruitment System, Digitisation of Paper Records, and Telemedicine were launched to help improve services at Free State health facilities.
The government is working tirelessly to ensure that unemployed doctors who want to join the public service are placed by 1 April this year, Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, has announced.
This follows an ongoing public outcry over doctors who have completed statutory community service programmes but remain unemployed.
“I am, therefore, happy to announce that working with the Minister of Finance we have a solution to address the current challenge of doctors who want to stay in the public service but could not be offered funded posts,” said the minister.
During the debate on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (Sona), Phaahla said the finance minister will flesh out more details during his Budget Speech on how these posts will be funded.
“Our national team is working with the National Treasury team to thrash out the details and working with provincial health departments to speed up the process so that by 1st April 2024 all those who will not be already in posts will be able to start.”
Phaahla said he was confident that some provinces would even be able to start giving out appointment letters before 1 April.
