Thank you, currently South African medical schools produce about 1 200 doctors annually. Since the 1990s the increase in the burden of disease, the high incidence of HIV/Aids and the loss of qualified doctors to developed countries has resulted in a critical shortage of positions. This does not help efforts to significantly reduce maternal and child mortality.
According to reports, a fifth of the physicians trained in Africa migrate to high-income countries within five years of completing their training. Our medical professionals are saying there are ways to influence highly trained professionals to stay in the country and that, apart from a living wage, providing a supportive environment for clinical work and research and supporting doctors with small-scale research would go a long way.
Security is another hot issue for both health professionals and patients, as demonstrated by protesting doctors after the fatal stabbing of Dr Senzosenkosi Mkhize in Middelburg on 7 June 2011.
The ACDP has called for a re-evaluation of legislation and the consideration of the need to establish an independent regulatory body for doctors and dentists, whose voices in the Health Professions Council of South Africa, HPCSA, are diluted. This would not only ensure greater integrity in dealing with professional misconduct and clinical negligence but will build confidence within the medical profession.
We welcome what we perceived to be a change of attitude towards serious problems emanating from the practice of abortion on demand and we look forward to working with the Minister in dealing with the many abuses. Despite concerns about underspending, the ACDP will support this Budget Vote.