Question NW3091 to the Minister of Health
14 October 2022 - NW3091
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health
(1)What total number of community service (a) doctors and (b) nurses have not been placed for the 2022 cycle; (2) what (a) total number of community service (i) doctors and (ii) nurses have had their contracts terminated in each province and (b) are the reasons for the termination; (3) (a) what plans are in place to absorb the doctors and nurses and (b) will the department consider allowing the private sector to absorb community service doctors in order to complete their community service years in cases where community service doctors have either had their contracts terminated as a result of budgetary constraints and/or have not been placed?
Reply:
1. (a) According to the Internship and Community Service Programme all eligible applicants who met the requirement for allocations and submitted their application on time we all allocated. However, the following community service doctors were excluded due to the reasons provided in the respective columns:
|
2022 Annual Cycle - Applicant who was not placed during allocation phace - Doctors and Nurses |
|||||||||
|
|
Field of Study |
Already placed in previous cycle |
Applicant deceased |
Applicant declined allocation |
Late - Applications |
Moved to a future cycle - availability date outside current cycle |
Future cycle - based on Institutions and Provinces feedback |
Removed from Allocation - Based on Institutional Feedback |
Grand Total |
|
Community Service |
Medical Practitioner |
3 |
|
74 |
6 |
50 |
20 |
1 |
154 |
|
|
Professional Nurse |
53 |
1 |
24 |
27 |
119 |
10 |
|
234 |
|
Grand Total |
|
56 |
1 |
98 |
33 |
169 |
30 |
1 |
388 |
|
2022 Midyear Cycle - Applicant who was not placed during allocation phace - Doctors and Nurses |
|||||
|
|
Field of Study |
Applicant declined allocation |
Late - Applications |
Moved to a future cycle - availability date outside cycle |
Grand Total |
|
Community Service |
Medical Practitioner |
11 |
7 |
1 |
19 |
|
|
Professional Nurse |
|
8 |
|
8 |
|
Grand Total |
|
11 |
15 |
1 |
27 |
2. (a) The table below indicate the total number of (i) doctors and (ii) nurse applicants who was placed in the 2022 cycle’s but terminate their allocation after placement.
|
2022 Community Service applicants who terminated their contracts |
||||||||||
|
Field of Study |
ECP |
FSP |
GAU |
KZN |
Lim |
MPU |
NCP |
NWP |
WCP |
Grand Total |
|
Medical Practitioner |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
10 |
||||
|
Professional Nurse |
8 |
11 |
3 |
22 |
||||||
|
Total |
8 |
0 |
15 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
32 |
(b) The main reason why applicants terminated their contracts was medical and personal reasons. Also 1 death in Limpopo Medical Officer.
(3) (a) The Department is ensuring that all Statutory community service posts for both doctors and nurses are absorbed within the Provincial Equitable Share and the Human Resources Training Grant (HRTG) Budgets
(b) Currently only Organs of State (i.e. South African Health Product Regulator Authority (SAHPRA), National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) and Office of Health Standard Compliance (OHSC) are included in accommodating community service doctors and nurses. The model to accommodate the private health sector to absorb community service doctors and nurses will be explored during the review of the Community Service Policy that is on course.
END.