Some healthcare workers vow to continue protesting if govt doesn’t employ more in sector
Medical union SAMATU said that employment shortages in the public healthcare sector was a ripple effect in providing efficient services.
The South African Medical Trade Union members marched to the Union Building over the high unemployment rate in the health sector on 26 February 2024. Picture: Screenshot
JOHANNESBURG - Some disgruntled healthcare workers have vowed to continue protesting if the government does not come up with a plan to employ more people in the sector.
On Monday, dozens of practitioners marched to the Union Buildings to deliver a memorandum of demands to the president's office.
ALSO READ: Protesting healthcare workers give Ramaphosa deadline to respond to demands
The South African Medical Association Trade Union (SAMATU) said the country had almost 700 qualified medical doctors who are not able to find jobs in the public healthcare sector.
The union said this had a ripple effect in providing efficient services, especially at public healthcare centres.
A representative of The Presidency, Philemon Mahlangu, received the document but he said a seven-day deadline to address the issues couldn’t be guaranteed.
"It will be dealt with internally following specified acts and all of that."
SAMATU's first deputy president, Dr Nkateko Mnisi, said their demands are for the benefit of the country.
“We are tired of hearing people complaining about the public healthcare system or bad experiences. We want the quality to be of a standard the world revels in."