eNCA reports that frustrated student doctors are using social media, under the hashtag #UnemployedDoctors, to complain about their uncertain futures.  

Nearly 300 final-year students have not been placed for internships next year.  And Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi is backing them, placing the blame on three major provinces that have failed to fund the internships.  He stated:  "The provinces that have to carry huge numbers of interns are the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.  If those provinces don’t budge then you experience a problem.  I have been telling them that they have to fill those posts.”  Motsoaledi threatened to take legal action if those provinces did not act.  The Western Cape Health Department said it had allocated seven more posts, but was awaiting further funds from Treasury.  The other provincial departments of health have yet to comment.  The Junior Doctors Association (Judasa) said the shortage of internships was a crisis.

• Read this report in full at eNCA
• See too, Nearly 300 student doctors don't have placements for 2018, at EWN

Read a joint SAMA/Judasa press statement at SAMA online

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page