SA's Doctor to Patient ratio critical at 0.8:1000
30 September 2014
I will write to the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, requesting a meeting with him to discuss ways to increase capacity and funding in order to produce more qualifying graduates to enter the medical health profession and ensure our doctor to patient ratio increases.
According to the World Bank's Global Atlas of the Health Work Force in 2013, South Africa has fallen behind most of our BRICS counterparts, with Brazil (1.9:1000) and Russia (4.3:1000) outperforming us and India (0.7:1000) facing similar difficulties. Other developing countries like Egypt (2,8:1000), Cuba (6.7:1000) and Mexico (2.1:1000) are also surpassing us.
In 2009, 17% of our graduating medical professionals left the country to seek greener pastures.
We call on the Minister to systematically start implementing the recommendations made in the National Development Plan (NDP) regarding the alternative District Health System, improvement of Community Based Services, retention and talent management.
The major imbalances in supply and demand for medical professionals in our country must be addressed and needs urgent attention by the Minister.
We would recommend the Minister to explore the following:
Increasing funding for the training of medical professionals;
Increasing capacity at existing medical schools in the country, which will allow for an increase in enrolments;
To implement smarter retention strategies; and
Undertake a major infrastructure review programme to assess our current capacity constraints and to create an enabling environment for growth to increase doctor to patient ratios to more acceptable levels.
In response to reports today, the DA believes our country should be open to hiring foreign medical professionals to supplement our need whilst we are in the process of growing our own timber.
Statement issued by Dr Wilmot James MP, DA Shadow Minister of Health, September 30 2014
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