The National Health Department said it would be embarking on a massive recruitment drive to fill thousands of vacancies for health professionals across the country, including filling dozens of posts in the Eastern Cape.
Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, announced on Sunday that 36 new medical officers will be appointed in the Eastern Cape, while more than 150 vacancies for nurses will also be filled.
More than 300 general staff, porters and mortuary attendants will also be appointed in health institutions across the province.
Minister Motsoaledi, who will be in the Eastern Cape on Monday to announce a turnaround plan for the province’s mental health services, said over 5300 vacant posts will be filled from January 2019.
He said in addition to being a product of the presidential stimulus package, it is also the implementation of the recommendations of the presidential health summit held a few weeks ago.
“Under-staffing, especially in the provinces, has been cited as one of the major contributing factors which have negatively affected the provision of health care,” he said.
The breakdown of the posts for the Eastern Cape is as follows:
- three medical specialists
- 36 medical officers (post-community service doctors)
- 100 enrolled nursing assistants
- 74 enrolled nurses
- 50 pharmacy assistants
- 320 general staff, porters, and mortuary attendants
Professionals interested in these posts were advised to communicate with the various provincial health department heads (HODs), Motsoaledi said.
- African News Agency (ANA)
