The Don

Young doctors reject rural employment. Several vacant posts are in rural areas, places that some prefer to sit out for a year rather than venture into unfamiliar territory. This is a yearly problem where some young doctors reject rural placements using a variety of reasons.

Mmusi, it appears that you may not fully grasp the workings of the system for government-employed doctors. Please refrain from framing this issue solely in the context of elections and the state of govt hospitals. If your concern is valid, are you suggesting that all government-employed doctors should refrain from working? The actual reason provided for the current situation is the rural location of the hospitals and SOME young doctors prefer to sit it out. When these doctors who are opting out of taking positions in rural hospitals applied to study medicine, they were aware of the rigorous commitment involved – six years of schooling, followed by two years of internship and one year of community service, which involves working in government hospitals across the country. Subsequently, they are expected to assume positions as medical officers and progress within the system at government hospitals THROUGHOUT the country. Counting the number of medical school graduates each year who are guaranteed an intern doctor's salary paid for by the government. This budget is massive and yes there are times when there are no intern doctor positions available for graduates. Throughout their employment by govt, doctors receive very competitive salaries and are members of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), which adds a significant 12/13% contribution to their income and is a defined benefit retirement fund not found in the private sector. Upon graduating in medicine in South Africa, doctors take the Hippocratic Oath, signifying a commitment to equal and fair treatment of all patients. Therefore it is unrealistic when SOME doctors expect special treatment or refuse to work in rural locations. South Africa has 400 government hospitals, each catering to patients in need of medical attention. A doctor who declines a vacant position in a rural area is essentially denying a patient their right to equitable medical treatment because the facility may be understaffed with doctors. However, it is a doctor's democratic choice to sit at home, and for those who do they should not complain until they have exhausted all opportunities to earn an income and serve South African patients equitably.

Young doctors reject rural employment. Several vacant posts are in rural areas, places that some prefer to sit out for a year rather than venture into unfamiliar territory. This is a yearly problem where some young doctors reject rural placements using a variety of reasons.