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Cape Town - Filling vacancies in the public health sector will cost R40bn.
A draft document on the recently published human resources health strategy for the health sector indicates that there are 106 518 vacancies.
These include 10 860 posts for doctors and 44 780 for specialist nurses.
But these figures are more likely to be an indication of record-keeping problems in the sector. The document says that there are unfortunately several problems related to the information that render its application problematic.
Econex senior economist Mariné Erasmus said there are misgivings about the reliability of the information, which could include frozen posts or records that have not been updated as posts are filled.
The document sketches a story of poor planning and problems in appointing and retaining important staff in the government sector.
It indicates an enormous shortage of staff.
In 2010 about 150 500 people were registered with the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA).
There were 231 036 nurses registered with the South African Nursing Council, as well as 12 813 pharmacists and 9 071 pharmacy assistants registered with the SA Pharmacy Council.
But Director-General of Health Precious Matsoso told parliament that the figures from the medical industry's operational units were unreliable.
In her view not one reliable record existed as to the number of medical personnel in the country.
Figures were given of nurses and doctors who were registered but working in other countries or no longer in practice.
“It's essential to update these registers so that we can know whether a doctor is practising, whether he is in the country, and whether he's working for the private or public sector.”
A draft document on the recently published human resources health strategy for the health sector indicates that there are 106 518 vacancies.
These include 10 860 posts for doctors and 44 780 for specialist nurses.
But these figures are more likely to be an indication of record-keeping problems in the sector. The document says that there are unfortunately several problems related to the information that render its application problematic.
Econex senior economist Mariné Erasmus said there are misgivings about the reliability of the information, which could include frozen posts or records that have not been updated as posts are filled.
The document sketches a story of poor planning and problems in appointing and retaining important staff in the government sector.
It indicates an enormous shortage of staff.
In 2010 about 150 500 people were registered with the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA).
There were 231 036 nurses registered with the South African Nursing Council, as well as 12 813 pharmacists and 9 071 pharmacy assistants registered with the SA Pharmacy Council.
But Director-General of Health Precious Matsoso told parliament that the figures from the medical industry's operational units were unreliable.
In her view not one reliable record existed as to the number of medical personnel in the country.
Figures were given of nurses and doctors who were registered but working in other countries or no longer in practice.
“It's essential to update these registers so that we can know whether a doctor is practising, whether he is in the country, and whether he's working for the private or public sector.”
