Well Chair, clearly this is a different question. [Interjections.] No, I will answer it. I will answer it, but it is a different question. The question from hon Singh had to deal with the registration of foreign qualified medical doctors. You are asking a question about the community service of qualified nurses. I will deal with it, but I am just also highlighting the fact that it is a new question. [Interjections.]
Now, we do indeed have a policy of providing community service for a wide range of health professionals, including those qualified in a nursing profession. However, in the same way as we do with medical doctors - whether it is internship or community service - first of all, we prioritise South African nationals and permanent residents in terms of whatever posts are available. So that is the primary category which we give priority to, like any other country. Only when there are additional posts and if there are foreign national graduates, we then also allocate them.
We do have a challenge in the area of professional nurses because of the fact that we can only allocate ... You find that there are posts, but because of the cutting of the budget, the compensation of employees has the highest cost. In many health institutions you will find that although the posts are required, the terms of the compensation of employees are heating up, eating into the other services of the institution. There is a reduction in that regard. So, we are working with them. That is why in the stimulus package of the previous year, we prioritised nursing as one of those areas where additional funds need to be allocated. So, it is purely a funding issue which we are working with our provinces to try and identify savings through which then those kinds of posts can be activated. Thanks.