The Public Servants Association’s Lynsie Pelser said the instruction to halt the filling of critical posts came from the acting Deputy Director-General of Corporate Services at the department. “These posts include nursing staff, administrative personnel, and cleaners. The PSA condemns this instruction, as it will have a profoundly negative impact on the functioning of clinics and hospitals in the province,” she added. The union believes that halting the recruitment of operational staff sends a distressing message to healthcare professionals and patients who rely on the department's services.

#DENOSA calls for the introduction of specialist courses for nurses to empower them and augment the intake of nurses every year to aliviate the shortage of nursing staff across all health centres in South Africa #InternationalNursesDay @WHO @GovernmentZA pic.twitter.com/booxpGpPQV

— @COSATU Today (@_cosatu) May 13, 2023

“These healthcare facilities are already grappling with severe staff shortages, making it difficult to meet the growing demands of the public.” 

Pelser stated that this decision raises significant concern about the department’s commitment to fulfilling its mandate of rendering quality healthcare to communities. The union urges the Department of Health to reconsider this decision and prioritise the welfare of patients by ensuring that the necessary staffing levels are maintained.

It is within the Health MEC’s rights to issue a directive that the advertisement of posts be halted in order to get clarity on the HR Strategy

In reply to OFM News’ enquiry, the departmental spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi explains that the powers of appointments are the responsibility of the MEC Mathabo Leeto, in terms of the Public Service Act, and these can be delegated and withdrawn to officials of the Department wherever it is deemed appropriate. “The Department has been seized with the responsibility to ensure that it makes the right appointments in the exercise of the core business of the Department, which is clinical and that there are appropriate Allied Health and Support Services.

“In this regard, the department will exercise its rights and responsibilities in accordance with powers and responsibilities as allocated by the applicable rules and regulations of the Public Service Act. 

Some patients at Pelonomi Hospital without beds. Some told OFM News' @katlehomorapela and @OlebogengMotse they have been sleeping on these chairs for more than a week #FShealthcrisis @HealthZA @MondliMvambi pic.twitter.com/VpGQJBm6D0

— OFM News (@OFMNews9497) July 9, 2018

“Section 9 of Chapter IV, Employment in Public Service, states that an executive authority, in our case, this is the MEC, may appoint any person in his or her department in accordance with this Act and in such manner and on such conditions as may be prescribed.”

In conclusion, “For example, the MEC is within her rights to issue a directive that the advertisement of posts be halted in order to get clarity on the HR Strategy that is applied concerning those posts. The department can exercise the right to limit an advert to internal processes or decide to open it to public processes, depending on its strategic priorities.”

ALSO READ: More than 19 000 posts filled in Free State health sector

Filling all vacant posts with people who are qualified is the department’s part of building a capable state

MEC Leeto during the tabling of her 2023/2024 budget, she said “the department will in the near future fill critical posts, including hospital CEOs and District Directors in the 2023/24 financial year.” She also reiterated that filling all vacant posts with people who are qualified is the department’s part of building a capable state. Out of the 19 273 posts that were recently filled, 946 are medical officers, 177 medical specialists, 3 893 professional nurses, 2 210 assistant nurses, 130 pharmacists, 1 131 staff nurses and 10 786 that are in other categories of healthcare workers. A total of 114 vacancies were filled at the beginning of the 2022/23 financial year at the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein. Staff shortages have been a major issue at the hospital, which the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) identified as a crisis during an oversight visit to healthcare facilities in the province.

ALSO READ: Solutions for troubled #Pelonomi

Free State's foremost trauma hospital brought to a standstill for medical attention

Pelonomi Hospital, based in Bloemfontein, was once brought to a standstill, not by disgruntled workers, but by protesting patients who felt they were waiting a long period of time before getting medical attention. Mvambi confirmed that it is true some patients have been waiting for a long period of time due to different reasons, as each injury is treated on its own individual merit and healthcare service provision is tailored to each patient. However, the staff at the hospital were allegedly also overwhelmed by the massive demand for orthopaedic services due to high volumes of cases of trauma, violence, and injury, which require more theatre space, time, and resources. At the time, he explained that they are working relentlessly to strengthen healthcare services and remove the burden of high volumes of referrals to Pelonomi by supporting orthopaedic services at lower levels of care.

ALSO READ: No end in sight for medical staff shortage

Medical staff shortage is a nationwide issue

The shortage of medical staff in South Africa remains a concern, as there were 21 000 posts that still had to be filled by provincial departments of health countrywide. DA member of the Portfolio Committee on Health, Michéle Clarke, previously told OFM News that the National Department of Health has not communicated when they will be in a position to fill these posts. She also stated that in the country, there are less than three doctors to care for one thousand patients within the health public sector. Clarke further explained that there are over 21 500 shortages of nursing staff in the country.

OFM News