“Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi faces sharp criticism for advising unemployed doctors to explore private or international job opportunities, citing a lack of funds to employ them in the public sector,” reported The Citizen (10 Jan 2024).
His remarks followed a protest in Bhisho, Eastern Cape, where over 500 doctors demanded government action on their unemployment crisis.
According to Motsoaledi, completing internships and community service does not guarantee state absorption.
“Motsoaledi’s comments come amidst broader challenges in South Africa’s public health system. Critics argue the state’s inability to employ doctors stems from decades of mismanagement and corruption. The irony of these remarks, made while implementing the ambitious National Health Insurance (NHI), has not gone unnoticed.”