DURBAN - The South African Medical Association (Sama) has given the government until December 16 this year to place all eligible medical students in internship and community service programmes.
Sama spokesperson Dr Mzulungile Nodikida said the Department of Health failed to live up to its mandate of opening-up spaces for medical students to complete their course requirements towards their qualification.
“The government has failed in its fundamental objective, which is to fulfil its role in the qualification of student medical personnel. The government has the responsibility to help these students to get two years of internship and one year of community service. After months of engagement, it became clear that the Health Department would not fulfil its role, and they confirmed that to us in a meeting on December 2.
“Should the government fail to do so by December 16, we will approach the courts on an urgent basis to force the government to place these students,” said Nodikida.
Nodikida said in their database there are more than 4 000 students who do not have an internship or community service.
“In our database, we have 2 252 students who are without community service, and 2 472 without an internship programme. It would be better if the two programmes were not statutory requirements to be a qualified doctor, but they are, which then means the students cannot even open their private practices without it,” said Nodikida.
Sama said one of the causes for the backlog in placement was due to the government’s attempt to reach the World Health Organization’s (WHO) one doctor per thousand ratio goal.
“The numbers of unplaced students increased as the Department of Health adopted the WHO’s ratio of one doctor per thousand population, together with the programme of producing doctors trained in Cuba who are earmarked to lead the Primary Health Care re-engineering which is the cornerstone of the National Health Insurance.
“Both the National Development Programme and the current Medium Term Strategic Framework 2019 – 2024 speak to this integrated HR strategy which puts at the core the ratio of doctors per thousand population and the Cuban programme. So, it cannot be that when the final product needs to be implemented, the government does not have the financial resources to achieve it,” said Nodikida.
Former Research Director of the South African Medical Students Association at UKZN, Ashiq Pramchand, said the association was aware of students who have not been placed on any programme since their eligibility.
“We have spoken to a number of students who have not been placed with any programme. But, we unfortunately cannot reveal any details of the students due to confidentiality concerns,” said Pramchand.
He said the Department of Health could improve on its strategy and communication channels.
“A line of open communication between the government, universities and students should exist for a more efficient system. A lot of the confusion actually comes from the lack of transparency and monitoring of complaints as well as the capacity to enrol students,” said Pramchand.
Foster Mohale, the media relations director at the National Department of Health, said it was working to find a solution to the impasse before December 25.
“The department’s lack of funding does not mean we are not working on finding resources to make sure all the students are placed in their respective career programmes. We are finalising the logistics of the placements and will make an announcement before Christmas on the implementation plan,” said Mohale.
Daily News