Much needed foreign-trained doctors left to twiddle their thumbs in SA

A desperate father of an externally trained South African doctor is pained and frustrated at the national department of health’s policy regarding placing newly graduated doctors in internships.

He said it was clearly prejudiced against overseas graduates. His daughter, who graduated from a foreign university in June 2017, is one of more than 20 foreign graduates struggling to get internships from the department of health. They have to complete an internship to qualify to practise as medical doctors in South Africa.

“We, as a family, sacrificed a lot of money to send our children to study abroad,” said the father, who wished to remain anonymous. “We paid in dollars for the university and you have to provide accommodation and transport and living expenses. It is too much money to think about.”

He said his daughter had been away for five years and had hoped to start her career as a doctor in South Africa. However, the real battle was getting her into the department of health’s system.

“It’s worth the sacrifice when your child comes back qualified … only to find that it is a bigger battle to get them into the system in your own country,” he added.

In terms of South African law, all doctors and medical health professionals are required to complete an internship at a public hospital and one year of community service. Failure to fulfil these requirements means doctors cannot go into private practice or practise their profession.

His daughter applied to write the Health Professions’ Council of South Africa’s (HPCSA’s) board exam and was allocated a slot in October/November last year.

She passed along with 19 other students in a similar position. In August last year, she applied via the national department of health’s online portal for an internship starting in January this year. Her application was successful, meaning she was eligible for an internship provided she passed the HPCSA exam.

However, she said, according to the department of health’s online Internship Community Service Programme system she and her colleagues did not qualify for the cycle that started in January. They have to wait another six to 10 months to be placed due to “incomplete applications”.

“We are struggling to understand this statement as we have fulfilled the necessary requirements to be placed as interns, yet it seems we fall short on a technicality. We have tried all forms of formal contact with (the department), but there’s no response,” she said. “It would be unfortunate to wait another six to 10 months to start working, when we have passed, have our documents and there are posts available.”

National department of health spokesperson Popo Maja had not responded to The Citizen’s enquiries by the time of going to press.

– gcinan@citizen.co.za

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