Update on placement of medical interns and community service graduates
The Department of Health has an obligation to place all eligible applicants who have met requirements in terms of the regulations and community service policy to perform statutory responsibility as medical interns and community service personnel.
A total number of 2101 eligible community service personnel and 2210 medical interns have been placed at various facilities across the country as of Tuesday, 2 January 2024.
A number of 220 applicants for community service doctors are not eligible to commence duty in January 2024 due to starting their internship late. As a result, they will only be allocated posts later in the year.
Fifty-three (53) eligible community service doctors did not commence their duties because they rejected posts for a number of reasons including geographic location and they have since lodged appeals.
The department is currently attending to all appeals, and the outcomes will be communicated to each appellant in due course.
The impact of service delivery on the vacated post will be considered as a determining factor during the appeals review process.
The Department also acknowledges that a percentage of certain categories of health professions including Environmental Health Practitioners, Radiotherapists and Physiotherapists could not be placed for community service due to a shortage of funded posts in the provinces.
However, we are working with Provincial Departments of Health to unlock funding to reach 100% allocation for eligible applicants that remain
unallocated.
The issue of Environmental Health Practitioners is receiving special attention because it involves a number of stakeholders including local government and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to ensure no one is left behind especially because of their important role in enforcing compliance with food safety laws and regulations.
The Department is in constant communication with all affected applicants, including the 27 community service doctors who were initially allocated to Northern Cape, but later re-allocated to alternative choices, to keep them abreast of the developments.
The Department has been made aware of a number of unemployed, post-community service doctors. In this regard, we are communicating with organizations representing doctors as well as with those doctors who contacted us directly.
The Department is working with the provinces to address this problem.
We wish the successful applicants all the best as they join the health work force to serve the nation to promote a long and healthy life for all South Africans.
For more information and media enquiries, please contact:
Mr Foster Mohale
Health Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 072 432 3792
E-mail: Foster.mohale@health.gov.za
Mr Doctor Tshwale
Media Liaison Officer for Health Minister
Cell: 063 657 8487
E-mail: Doctor.tshwale@health.gov.za
