Under the microscope – Addressing the staff shortages
With a lack of medical doctors in the public sector, the department is faced with major issues, as queues become longer and patients are not seen to. It was with this very issue in mind, that more than 200 students were sent to Cuba to study medicine.
Staff concerns rank high among the Department of Health’s (DoH) agenda, for addressing the health issues of South Africa.
With a lack of medical doctors in the public sector, the department is faced with major issues, as queues become longer and patients are not seen to. It was with this very issue in mind, that more than 200 students were sent to Cuba to study medicine.
“We know we have a lack of doctors in this country. We are trying to address this matter.
“This is why we accept students who have studied at various international universities, and are attempting to create more local universities for students locally,” explained Desmond Motha, spokesperson for the MEC of Health in KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo. With this in mind, the proposed idea of the private medical university, which was earmarked as a Newcastle development, was brought to the attention of Dr Dhlomo. The university was set to be affiliated to India’s Manipal University that already accepts many South African students at no cost to the student, and has a burgeoning relationship with the South African Government.
“We would love to have the university built in our province, and in this pilot district of National Health Insurance (NHI),” said Dr Dhlomo.
He explained he would personally champion the development of this idea in the province, however, in would be a joint venture between the DoH and the Department of Higher Education and Learning.
For now the project has been placed on ice, and the university is still deliberating with the Government on its development. “We have to understand that the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University was recently opened, and another was opened with Medunsa. The department has to look at whether the development is viable and ideally situated for the area,” Dr Dhlomo continued. He believed with the need for health professionals in the country continuously escalating, the development of Medical universities was a definite need. The project has the political backing of many figureheads, including mayor Afzul Rehman.
