WATCH: Limpopo Health MEC proposes shifts for health workers as part of the department’s turn-around strategy
Limpopo MEC of Health, Phophi Ramathuba briefed the media on challenges and issues that the health service have been facing during a media briefing at the Department of Health's offices in Polokwane on Tuesday, 8 January.
POLOKWANE – One of the challenges mentioned by the MEC is the current shortage of health care professionals on site. In a bid to resolve this issue, the department has proposed working shifts which will reduce the amount spent on overtime and give an opportunity for more appointments with the different departments. “Around R800 Million is spent on overtime annually, money which can be used to employ more staff to work on a shift basis which will in-turn ensure quality services delivered at all health care facilities in the province and nationally,” MEC Ramathuba explained.
“Hospitals are in dire need of additional doctors, nurses, pharmacy assistants. A submission has been submitted to the provincial treasury to appoint around 586 personnel professionals in the various fields which include, medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy. The department is committed to absorb all these professionals into the system.”
Read more about the Departments proposed turn-around strategy in next week’s Bonus newspaper.
