The Department of Health has confirmed plans to begin hiring 1,200 doctors, 200 nurses, and 250 other health workers, with recruitment preparations already underway.
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This move has been welcomed by the Rural Doctors Association and other health unions, who stress the urgent need to support under-resourced rural hospitals. These facilities have faced severe staffing shortages, especially since late 2024, when numerous resignations occurred and replacement posts were frozen.
The association noted that rural hospitals have not only lost their own medical staff but have also suffered due to cutbacks in referral services from regional and tertiary hospitals. Although the appointment of six doctors to Zithulele Hospital in the Eastern Cape has been a positive step, the association insists that rural staffing must be given top priority.
There is concern that the allocation of only 200 nursing posts is insufficient, particularly after the withdrawal of overseas development assistance that had previously funded 2,000 nursing roles across 27 priority districts—many of which are rural.
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa also expressed disappointment with the limited number of nursing posts being filled, describing it as a symbolic gesture rather than a meaningful solution. According to the organisation, provinces like the Free State and Eastern Cape are experiencing vacancy rates of up to 28%. Without swift action, the country could face a shortage of over 100,000 nurses by 2030.
Healthcare professionals continue to urge the government to act decisively in addressing these staffing challenges to ensure quality healthcare reaches every part of the country.