NCOP
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO. 133
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 16 April 2010
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 8)
Mr O de Beer (COPE-WC) to ask the Minister of Health:
(1) Whether his department has a plan in place with regard to the (a)
shortage of staff and (b) 36 unfilled vacant posts advertised in the
Mecklenburgh Hospital in Limpopo since 2001; if not, why not; if so,
(i) when was this plan implemented and (ii) how is it structured;
(2) whether this plan has been successful; if not, why not; if so, what
are the relevant details?
CW163E
REPLY:
According to the Limpopo Provincial Department of Health and Social
Development, the following is a response to the question:
(1) (a) The Department has a structured and costed five-year Human
Resource Plan for the recruitment and retention of health
professionals, including support staff which is reviewed
annually;
(b) From 2001 to 2009, the Department advertised 146 posts for
Mecklenburg Hospital. Of these posts, 100 were filled over the
same period. Currently the Department is in the process of short-
listing and interviewing for 14 posts of health professionals
such as Medical Officers, Pharmacists, Staff Nurses and Health
Therapists. The balance of 32 posts which could not be filled
will be re-advertised during the current financial year to
address the shortage.
i) The plan is implemented on an annual basis;
ii) The plan is structured as follows:
⢠Job Title Description;
⢠Target of funded vacant posts to be filled during a
particular year;
⢠The cost involved.
(2) The plan has been successfully implemented within the constraints of
the budget and the scarcity of health professional. In addition, the
Department has issued delegations to District Executive Managers and
Chief Executive Officers for direct recruitment and appointment of
health professionals as and when they present themselves.
END.