Question NW4063 to the Minister of Health

Reply:

The National Department of Health opened the Internship and Community Service Programme (ICSP) application site from 4 October until 23 October 2023. Applicants and all relevant stake holders including students representatives by the form of Unions and Associations were informed accordingly.

As a result, it is appreciated that a total of 10 495 applicants headed a call and applied for medical internship and community service positions.

a) A total of 2 036 nurses (i.e. South African Citizens, Permanent Residents and Foreign Nationals) applied for professional nurses community service positions. However, priority for allocation of the applicants is in accordance with the South African employment Regulations and Acts (i.e. including the Immigration Act of 2004, as amended) that prioritizes allocations to South African Citizens and Permanent Residents into funded positions.

b) 2009 applicants were eligible for placement based on the citizenship priority processes as mentioned above. All applicants have been allocated and notified.

c) The ICSP has two cycles, January and July intake, for allocation designed to accommodate applicants who complete and confirmed eligible at different intervals. As a result the department ensures that those that are eligible to assume duty on 1st January are duly allocated and appointed before commencing duty.

The department is considerate and mindful that the applicants need to make necessary arrangements, including travelling, hence ensuring that applicants are notified a month before the intake date.

The deadline to finalize all allocations cannot be specified as the process is not punitive, however it unfolds until all eligible applicants have been allocated to positions, and duly appointed by Provincial Departments of Health.

END.