DA

The DA calls on the health minister to attend to the unemployment of doctors. Photo: Pixabay.com

Health Dept accuses young doctors of rejecting rural hospital jobs

Doctors took to social media to share their experiences of working in rural areas depsite government claims that they reject rural posts

DA

The DA calls on the health minister to attend to the unemployment of doctors. Photo: Pixabay.com

The Department of Health has accused young doctors of refusing to work in rural hospitals.

This comes after reports earlier this month that nearly 1000 doctors have not been contracted to healthcare facilities after completing their community service due to the government’s lack of funds.

POSTS IN RURAL AREAS

ALSO READ: Doctors union slams government for unemployed doctors crisis

ALSO READ: Unemployed Doctors: ANCYL demands meeting with Minister

ALSO READ: DA: ‘Young doctors failed by Department of Health’

In a short post on X( formally Twitter) the department says, “Young doctors reject rural employment. Several vacant posts are in rural areas, places that some prefer to sit out for a year rather than venture into unfamiliar territory. This is a yearly problem where some young doctors reject rural placements using a variety of reasons.”

DOCTORS SLAM HEALTH DEPARTMENT

ALSO READ: Foreign-qualified SA medical doctors to finally sit for board exams

However, several doctors have accused the department of being misleading and failing to absorb them after they have completed their internship and community service.

“Reading this post saddens me because I was working in rural area and after comserve I didn’t have a job because there was no posts”, says @ratanag95.

Another doctor revealed how rural hospital lack basic equipment such as an x-ray machine.

“I worked 12 months in a Rural Hospital that doesn’t have an Xray, yes Xray!!! in 2023!!! After the 12 months I was given a letter saying they can’t afford me, me and other 7 doctors. We went to serve and got dumped. Stop lies!” says @lereesky.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLES BY APHIWE NGWENYA