South African public healthcare is once again making headlines for a familiar reason this time of year. The headline that caught my attention this morning read: “Doctors Jobless.” This issue has become all too common during this period, with commentaries flooding newspapers, digital platforms, and television news outlets.
For nearly a decade, South Africa has been grappling with a severe unemployment crisis that affects millions, particularly the youth. While this issue was once thought to mainly impact unskilled workers, it has now engulfed both skilled and unskilled workers, including healthcare professionals.
Despite the widespread coverage of the unemployment crisis among medical doctors, the challenges faced by ‘marginalised’ healthcare professionals have often been neglected. This skewed narrative is reminiscent of the “pothole phenomenon,” where the loud reactions to visible issues overshadow similar problems in less visible but greatly affected communities.
It is crucial to bring to light the voices of oral health professionals, rehabilitation specialists, therapeutic practitioners, and mental health professionals who have been sidelined in discussions about the healthcare worker unemployment crisis. Many of these professionals have resorted to independent practice to make ends meet, a reality that is often overlooked in the dominant narratives about healthcare in South Africa.
The dominance of medical and nursing communities in South African healthcare has led to an overestimation of the role these professions play in achieving a healthy society. It is essential to recognize and address the challenges faced by non-medical and non-nursing healthcare professionals as integral parts of the healthcare ecosystem.
Calls for the government to hire more healthcare professionals without considering the burden of disease and areas with the greatest need for healthcare are shortsighted and unsustainable. There is a need for critical dialogue to plan a sustainable and accessible healthcare future, focusing on reforms in human resources for health and a cost-effective healthcare workforce mix grounded in the primary healthcare approach.
Investing in a diverse healthcare workforce that includes clinical associates and other healthcare professionals can improve service delivery at a lower cost than hiring more medical doctors. Aligning the basic competencies of healthcare professionals with the burden of disease and prioritizing population health outcomes are crucial steps towards building a sustainable and inclusive healthcare system in South Africa.
It is time to shift the focus from a monopoly of medical and nursing professionals to a more inclusive approach that values the contributions of all healthcare professionals. By embracing task-sharing across professions, improving leadership and governance, and prioritizing population health outcomes, South Africa can build a healthcare system that is sustainable and accessible to all its citizens. Inclusive healthcare is essential for achieving equitable healthcare for everyone in South Africa. Stay up to date with the latest health news by following us on Twitter @HealtheNews. Our Twitter account is a valuable resource for staying informed about important health updates, medical breakthroughs, and tips for living a healthy lifestyle.
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