Ramaphosa promises govt will invest in hiring more nurses, doctors
Over the past few years, the National Treasury has been implementing cost-cutting measures across all government departments, including health.
President Cyril Ramaphosa speaking at the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA)’s 9th Congress at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Picture: Thabiso Goba/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised the government will invest in hiring more nurses and doctors despite the financial constraints.
Over the past few years, the National Treasury has been implementing cost-cutting measures across all government departments, including health.
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Budget cuts to the healthcare sector are one of many topics set to be discussed at the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA)’s 9th congress, taking place at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg.
Speaking at the conference on Tuesday, Ramaphosa said the country’s healthcare facilities are in desperate need of more healthcare staff.
“The scaling down of financial resources available to the health sector is held back and in fact, we see an increase in allocating more funds to health so that we can employ more nurses and we can also employ unemployed doctors. Now that we will be able to do.”
Ramaphosa said nurses will be a major determining factor in the success or failure of the National Health Insurance (NHI).
“When people look at how we are implementing the NHI, the first point of call will be the capability, the ability of our nurses to be able to improve the delivery of healthcare in our country, so you are going to be at the centre of it all and it is you people are going to look at.”