Mpumalanga’s health system has received a major boost with the appointment of nearly 100 new doctors across clinics and hospitals. Health MEC Sasekani Manzini this week introduced the recruits at facilities in Matsulu, Msogwaba, Bushbuckridge and surrounding areas, describing the move as a milestone in strengthening primary health care and improving service delivery. Civil society groups and medical associations have welcomed the appointments, saying they will ease pressure on referral hospitals and expand access to timely, quality care for communities that rely on public services.
Yesterday, Manzini said filling the vacant posts would improve service delivery in the province. “We decided to employ the doctors, some of whom will be working full-time at the clinics that operate for 24 hours a day,” he said. “This will improve service delivery because when a nurse realises a patient needs to see a doctor, the doctor will be available instead of referring them to the hospital.” She said the employment of the doctors needs to be celebrated.
“Mpumalanga, like all other provinces, was allocated a special budget to appoint all unemployed doctors. Mpumalanga was allocated a budget to be able to appoint 99 doctors,” said Manzini. “We have moved swiftly as a province and we appointed 97 out of the expected 99 because two doctors declined the posts, indicating that they had already made arrangements to further their studies.” Manzini also said 57 of the 97 new doctors were placed in district hospitals and the health care centres that operated 24 hours a day.
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