The Limpopo Department of Health have issued a response to the criticism over the lack of placing junior doctors in the province. Over 79 junior doctors who were allocated to public hospitals in Limpopo have allegedly not yet been placed.

The applicants are reportedly still waiting for contracts from the Limpopo health department.

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It is further reported that Junior doctors who were placed in other provinces started their community service as planned. But the 79 in Limpopo have not as they have not yet signed their contracts with the provincial health department.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON THE LACK OF PLACING JUNIOR DOCTORS

In a statement released on Tuesday, the department clarified what they call “unwarranted public attacks.”

“The Limpopo Department of Health wishes to respond to the unwarranted public attacks and vilification due to non-placement of community service Doctors,” read parts of the statement.

“It is important to note that the allocation and placement of Community Service Doctors is done by the National Department of Health through the ICSP system. Each year, provincial departments are required to confirm the number of funded posts in their province. For community service posts per category of health professionals.

“The officially confirmed funded posts are then used in the ICSP system for potential community service applications and allocation. For the 2023 cycle, the LDOH confirmed funding for 232 community service: category Medical officers. However, on request by NDOH, the LDOH agreed to fund an additional 30, bringing the number of funded posts for the 2023 cycle commencing 01 January 2023 to 264.

“The National Department of Health has allocated 261 Community Service Doctors to Limpopo and accordingly LDOH sought and received approval from its Provincial Treasury for allocation and appointment of 261.”

“As we speak those 261 community services have assumed duty in various facilities across the province.”

“We wish to indicate that, due to the in-principle position of the LDOH to reduce the strife of statutory requirement unemployment, it has led to the NDOH requesting assistance from LDOH from time to time when they are stranded with unallocated Community Service professionals who are unfunded.

COMPETENCE OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT

“Towards the end of May 2023, the National Department of Health requested the Limpopo Department of Health to assist with 31 unallocated and unfunded Community Service medical officers. There was no budgetary provision from NDoH to take care of the 31 additional Community Services Doctors and the Limpopo Department of Health was to look for funding to salvage the situation.

“Before the Limpopo Department of Health could find money to allocate the 31, the National Department of Health again on 14 June 2023 requested to be assisted with an additional 50 community service medical doctors. This number grew to 71 Community Service Doctors by 19 June 2023, bringing the total number to 102. After receiving 20 rejections for working in Limpopo province, the number was finalised at 82 at the end of June 2023.

It must be noted that although the allocation of the Community Services Doctors is the competence of the National Department of Health, the provincial department had agreed to try to assist by approaching the Provincial Treasury to allow the department to utilise some of the money accumulated through attritions of other medical officers who have left the department. So instead of replacing those attritions with permanent medical officers, the LDOH thought it best to assist those sitting at home because of statutory requirements to give them a chance to be registrable as independent practitioners in the near future.

LIMPOPO HEALTH DEPARTMENT OBJECT OF UNWARRANTED ATTACKS AND INSULTS?

Taking note of this background, the Limpopo Department of Health is flummoxed that it has suddenly become an object for attacks, insults and vilification for trying to help the stranded community service doctors that were NEVER part of its confirmed funded posts.

“The LDOH will henceforth, review its in-principle position on assisting the NDOH when it has a crisis with stranded health professionals that are due to fulfil their statutory community service.”