Health Minister's R3bn plan to bolster healthcare workforce, facilities

HEALTH Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has announced a major boost for South Africa’s public health system with the approval of over R1.78 billion to employ healthcare professionals, and an additional R1.3 billion for hospital essentials including beds, mattresses, and linen.

- SIPHESIHLE BUTHELEZI [e-mail]

“Early this year the country woke up to widespread dissatisfaction about the employment of healthcare professionals, especially doctors in the midst of shortage in the public healthcare system,’ said Motsoaledi.

He said the Department of Health had previously been hamstrung by “budgetary constraints brought by consistent austerity measures applied over a decade”.

However, following the national Budget tabled on March 12, the National Health Council has approved the advertisement of 1200 posts for doctors, 200 for nurses, and 250 for other healthcare roles.

“The Human Resources Units will soon commence with recruitment processes once all logistics have been finalised,” he confirmed.