Preamble

We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about the growing crisis of unemployed bursary holder doctors in the Free State. These doctors have fulfilled their obligations by completing their studies, often under challenging circumstances, with the promise of serving our communities in return for the bursary support they received. Yet, despite their qualifications and commitment, many remain without employment, while the province continues to face a severe shortage of healthcare professionals in public hospitals and clinics.

Demands Immediate Employment

The Free State Department of Health must urgently place all unemployed bursary holder doctors into funded, permanent posts to address both unemployment and healthcare service gaps.

Comprehensive Retention Strategy

Implement measures to retain doctors within the province, including competitive salaries, improved working conditions, ongoing professional development opportunities, and rural service incentives.

Increased Funding

Allocate sufficient provincial and national funds to create and sustain posts for all bursary holder doctors, ensuring long-term staffing stability in public healthcare facilities.

Transparency

Publish clear, publicly accessible reports on the number of bursary holders, available funded posts, and recruitment timelines to prevent future employment delays.

Accountability

Ensure accountability for any administrative delays, budgetary constraints, or policy gaps that have contributed to the current placement challenges.

Supporting Information

Our communities are facing a healthcare crisis: hospitals and clinics urgently need doctors, yet many trained bursary holder doctors remain unemployed.

South Africa faces a critical shortage of doctors, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

More than 50 Free State bursary holder doctors are currently unemployed despite there being a documented need for medical professionals in public hospitals.

These doctors were contractually bound to serve the province after graduation, yet the failure to place them breaches the spirit of the bursary agreements and undermines public healthcare delivery.

Delayed employment causes financial strain, skill deterioration, and drives qualified professionals to leave the province or the country.

Immediate action is needed to prevent further collapse of healthcare services and loss of trained professionals.

Closing

We, the signatories, call upon the Free State Department of Health, the Premier, the MEC and the National Department of Health to address this urgent matter without delay. Timely action is essential to protect the livelihoods of unemployed bursary holder doctors and to strengthen healthcare delivery in our communities.