Health Department hires over 2 000 interns amid COVID-19 battle

After coming under fire for the controversial deployment of more than 200 Cuban doctors, the Department of Health has announced the appointment of 2 369 medical interns.

In a statement on Friday, 21 August 2020, the department said it was the biggest medical intern allocation programme in history.

The department added 41 medical interns who had studied overseas, had passed their exams and would be assigned work in various parts of the country.

Cuban graduates return home

More than 650 graduates from the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro Cuban medical programme will also begin their reintegration programmes in preparation for their qualifications to practice here on home soil.

At the start of the national lockdown, the government roped in 217 medical doctors from Cuba to assist the country fight the coronavirus across all provinces. The decision was met with much backlash from sections of the local health fraternity, many questioning why a number of unemployed medical graduates had been neglected.

The SA Medical Association (Sama) have previously express concern on what this could mean for the country’s healthcare system, saying many were finding work overseas – which is a loss.

“We have an overwhelming shortage of qualified doctors and nurses, yet we are losing them to foreign countries because they can’t get jobs in public hospitals”, the association’s Dr Rhulani Edward Ngwenya.

Ngwenya said there was a problem with public hospitals as some lack adequate resources and equipment.

“If we are going to meet the sustainable development goals, we need institutions that can take care of patients efficiently”, he added.

Mkhize: ‘I am extremely proud’

The Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize has emphasised the importance of human resources within the sector.

“Human resources for health is the first pillar of the Presidential Health Compact. Its premier position amongst the nine pillars highlights the significance government places on strengthening and sustaining human resources for the healthcare sector”, Mkhize said.

Mkhize added that without doctors, there would essentially be no health system and said he was proud of the department’s achievement to ensure that the South African medical fraternity continues to grow.

“Having met some of these bright young colleagues, I am always left inspired by their passion, enthusiasm and willingness to contribute not only to the fight against COVID-19 but also the attainment of Universal Health Coverage”, the minister said.