Durban – The health department in KwaZulu-Natal has put a stop to the hiring of foreign health professionals, particularly doctors, to accommodate Cuban-trained South African doctors.
The African News Agency has seen the circular and verified its authenticity. It is addressed to district managers, hospital managers, community health centre managers, institution heads and head office managers. Some of the medical students were returning to medical schools around the country to complete their training, continued Gumede, and the department “will not have sufficient posts and funds to absorb these doctors should the recruitment and employment of foreign doctors not [be] reviewed and suspended”.
“Planning ahead is therefore crucial for this project to be successful, bearing in mind the financial constraints in the filling of critical posts.”In a statement issued last year as part of celebrations to welcome 260 Cuban-trained student doctors to KZN, the department said there were 2 885 medical students in Cuba who were at various levels of study.