News24 reports that SA doctors reportedly earn salaries similar to what they had earned in 2012 and 2013, and are currently receiving 13% below the expected income levels for their profession due to inflation.
This was revealed at a panel hosted by the SA Medical Association (SAMA) which examined the trends in doctors' salaries over the past decade. Key findings showed that doctors' salaries have stagnated relative to inflation, with no growth in earnings since 2020. Doctors are now in essence earning what they did in 2012 and 2013 in real terms. Interns, medical officers, and registrars have also been impacted. “Interns are earning R40,000 below what they should earn per year today,” said health economist Dr Sandile Mhlongo. He added that medical officers were suffering a similar fate, earning R60,000 less than they should earn annually. The findings also revealed that registrars were making R75,000 less than they should be making per annum. One of the key findings was the remarkable reliance on overtime pay to boost the salaries of medical professionals. SAMA board member Dr Zanele Bikitsha revealed that overtime pay constituted about 45% to 50% of a doctor’s salary. This put them in a higher tax bracket, although they did not benefit in the long run through pension fund contributions. Many doctors find themselves working long hours to compensate for inadequate incomes, which could lead to issues such as patients being neglected. The research presented did not directly compare South African doctors' salaries to international counterparts, but highlighted an alarming trend of healthcare professionals leaving clinical medicine for the private sector and international markets due to feelings of being undervalued within the local healthcare system.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Phumi Ramalepe at News24 (subscriber access only)
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