Foreign medical professionals stationed in various public health institutions across the province are crying foul while alleging that their respective governments are terminating their contracts and leaving them unemployed.
It was learnt that in excess of 20 foreign doctors might soon be without jobs in Limpopo. A medical practitioner who wished to remain anonymous indicated that the first inter-government agreement started in the late 1990s, first with Cuban, then Iran and Tunisia.
He stated they are brought to South Africa to work in state hospitals and clinics due to the lack of doctors in these institutions, but these days their contracts are terminated by the same governments that deployed them.
“They do not appreciate all the years we spent caring for the poor who can’t afford to be treated in private health facilities. We are the ones who bear the brunt of the work. We are the ones who in public institutions had trained and continue to train thousands of doctors to become interns, clinical associates and specialists,” a doctor stressed.
A doctor who spent at least ten years in the province argued that they were not needed anymore and that there is much uncertainty in their future employment. He further said they were practically settled in this country as they have families, properties and children who study in South Africa.
Department of Health spokesperson Neil Shikwambana explained that there was no termination of relations with foreign governments who provide medical professionals. He said foreign doctors’ contracts have terms and conditions and as the department, they cannot oppose it if their respective governments want them back. Shikwambana emphasised that foreign doctors come to the country for intervention and have to serve for a certain period as agreed between governments. Their relationship with foreign governments was still intact, he said.
Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
