SAMA Urges Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana To Prioritise Funding For Doctor Employment In Budget Speech

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has urged Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to place the employment of healthcare workers at the forefront of his Budget Speech on Wednesday.

The call comes amid mounting pressure on the country’s public health system, with concerns over staffing shortages and governance challenges continuing to dominate discussions in the sector.

SAMA Chairperson Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa said immediate intervention is needed to address the lack of healthcare professionals across several provinces.

Healthcare Worker Shortages Deepen Crisis In Public Hospitals

Mzukwa warned that the strain on the healthcare system cannot be ignored, pointing to systemic issues affecting service delivery.

“If we look at the state of our healthcare system in South Africa, we have a serious challenge in terms of our leadership and governance as reflected in the reports of the ombud, the health ombud, Professor Mokoena [Health Ombudsman, Professor Taole Mokoena].”

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Tongaat Hulett Liquidation Battle: Government Moves To Save 134-Year-Old Sugar Giant

He added that multiple provinces are facing acute difficulties.

“We have challenges in specific provinces, specifically like Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, and the Free State. Almost all of them [provinces], you know, except the Western Cape. The other problem is that we have a dire shortage of doctors and nurses or healthcare workers,” explains Mzukwa.

Pressure Mounts On Treasury Ahead Of Budget Speech

SAMA’s appeal places the spotlight firmly on Godongwana as he prepares to outline government’s spending priorities.

The association maintains that allocating sufficient funds to employ doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers is critical to stabilising facilities and improving patient care nationwide.

With the Budget Speech imminent, the medical body is hoping for concrete measures that will address staff shortages and strengthen the country’s struggling public health system.