While the prospect of the NHI is one reason why many of South Africa’s doctors choose to emigrate, it’s not the only reason \u2013 and other long-standing issues include low salaries, poor working conditions, and job security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was revealed in a City Press report<\/a><\/strong>, which asked the Far East Rand Hospital CEO and others why doctors are leaving South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the doctors noted the National Healthcare Insurance Bill (NHI) as a concern for some doctors, they listed problems that had existed long before the introduction of the Bill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The researchers, in results published in the Human Resources for Health journal in 2019, concluded that, of 497 medical graduates, 89% (444) were still working in South Africa while 6.8% (34) had emigrated \u2013 meaning doctors were already leaving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One reason for this is the incompetence and poor administration of South Africa’s registration system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As many are forced to wait for their community service, many take opportunities in other English-speaking countries, including Canada, the UK and Australia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In January<\/a>, it was reported that 800 qualified doctors could not find positions in public health posts despite staff shortages at state-owned hospitals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnnually, the department cites budget constraints as a barrier to hiring qualified medical doctors, yet no substantial measures are evident to solve the funding dilemma,\u201d the South African Medical Association Trade Union (Samatu) said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis contributes immensely to the web of factors that prompt the continuous emigration of qualified doctors.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Canadian immigration consultant Nicholas Avramis<\/a> <\/a>confirmed<\/a> interest in Canada, noting his offices have received around 17,000 enquiries from South Africans looking to move<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A stand-out benefit for South Africans moving to Canada \u2013 which many healthcare professionals may not know \u2013 is that local doctors and nurses are exempt from having to get re-certified for practice when they make the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other reasons to move include better pay and much better working conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In South Africa, it is more than low just salaries pushing doctors out the door; it also the high volume of patients, lack of resources, criminality, and old equipment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is why our doctors and nurses are leaving to go to other countries and work for a better life and working environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Avramis noted that top medical care (and the highly skilled doctors that come with it) is part of an extremely competitive global market \u2013 and if they can migrate to a better-paying and better-managed market, they will do that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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