Doctors ‘are not special’

Union ‘shocked’ at Motsoaledi telling them to leave.

- Masoka Dube

Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has been lambasted for telling South Africa's unemployed doctors to seek employment in the private sector or anywhere in the world.

Motsoaledi was responding to a recent protest by unemployed doctors in Bhisho in the Eastern Cape who were demanding employment from the department.

“We agree that there is a shortage of doctors in the country but we don’t have money to employ them. They cannot be given preferential treatment because the country has a problem with unemployment,” Motsoaledi said yesterday.

“To employ someone, you need to know how to pay them. There is a shortage of doctors around the world that we know.”

He said once doctors had done their internship and community service they were not entitled to be ‘absorbed’ by the state and they could work anywhere in the world or private sector.

However, South African Medical Association Trade Union (Samatu) general secretary Cedric Sihlangu said it was shocking to hear a minister encouraging doctors to leave the country.

“It is disheartening to hear suggestions that these doctors are independent practitioners and should pivot to private practice or seek employment abroad, especially being uttered by the minister of health,” Sihlangu said.