Question NW254 to the Minister of Health
25 February 2022 - NW254
Thembekwayo, Dr S to ask the Minister of Health
Given the Republic’s high unemployment rate and the shortage of staff across all public hospitals, what plans have been put in place to recruit and employ the health COVID19 contract workers permanently?
Reply:
The department acknowledges the magnitude of health care services provided by the health COVID-19 contract workers in assisting with addressing the required daily routine health services to the public, assisting with responses to the fourth wave demands and also the vaccination drive.
However, it is not possible for the department to employ the health COVID-19 contract workers permanently as their services are of a temporary nature (for the Pandemic) and that funding for their positions is through the Covid-19 earmarked funding and the Presidential Stimulus package, which is only for a specific period. Ideally, the Stimulus package was meant to support hospitals in responding to COVID -19 demands by addressing the capacity requirements at the peak of the pandemic.
END.