Samatu To Engage Finance Minister In Fight For Unemployed Doctors

The South African Medical Association Trade Union SAMATU has announced plans to escalate its campaign for the placement of unemployed doctors by engaging directly with the Finance Minister.

This decision follows a series of protests across various provinces, including one in the Eastern Cape yesterday, aimed at highlighting the challenges faced by unemployed doctors and the potential to address delays in public health services.

SAMATU General Secretary Dr. Cedric Sihlangu says, "Therell also be a national protest to the Finance Minister on the 31st of January because, by and large, all these issues pertaining to unemployment of doctors-if you go to the Minister of Health, hell tell you that its a finance issue and hes trying to discuss with the National Treasury. If you go to the MEC, hell cite that its a fiscal constraint issue," said Sihlangu.

He adds, "The national leadership of SAMATU decided to take these to the doorsteps of the Finance Minister simply to raise the plight, not only of unemployed doctors. In fact, the lack and under-staffing of these clinics and hospitals directly impacts accessing adequate healthcare services to these communities."

VIDEO SAMATUs march to address the issue of unemployed doctors: