Question NW2754 to the Minister of Health
17 December 2020 - NW2754
Thembekwayo, Dr S to ask the Minister of Health
Whether he has been informed that the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has funded four groups of Orthodontist and Prosthetics, and that Groups A and B were placed in 2017 and 2018 respectively in Wentworth Hospital, while Groups C and D have not been placed since 2019; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the reasons that other groups of trained medical workers have not been placed in hospitals yet?
Reply:
The KwaZulu Natal Provincial Department of Health provides students with bursaries with a view that they will return and serve back to the Department, this is done in good faith and is dependent on the Department having the necessary funding to employ the said bursary holders. Unfortunately, the KZN Department of Health is experiencing financial constraints and so is the entire Public Service.
It must be mentioned that the categories mentioned above which are Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics are not the only group of students that were funded by the Department and are yet to be placed for employment.
There are currently 39 bursary holders for Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics that are yet to be placed.
The KZN Health Department has confirmed that it is working with the Office of the Premier and KZN Treasury to find a solution in this regard.
END.