Gauteng health spends R14 million on 11 Cuban doctors

15 April 2024

The Gauteng Health Department is spending R14 million per year on 11 Cuban doctors despite the large number of unemployed South African doctors.

This is revealed by Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

The Cuban doctors work at the following health facilities:

Johannesburg Metro Health District - 4 doctors
Ekurhuleni Metro Health District - 3 doctors
Sedibeng Metro Health District - 2 doctors
Thelle Mogoerane Hospital - 1 doctor
Tembisa Hospital - 1 doctor

Their annual pay packages range from R1.2 million to R1.64 million, amounting to a total annual cost of R14 million.

According to the MEC, they are employed as part of the SA-Cuban Agreement, and they have Treaty Visas to live and work in South Africa.

Some of their contracts expire this year, and the Department says it “will evaluate the staff needs at the end of their contracts.”

It is outrageous that we are employing Cuban doctors instead of qualified local doctors.

A DA provincial government will cancel all contracts with Cuban doctors and give preference to local doctors.

Issued by Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, 15 April 2024