SAMA Archives - Voice of the Cape

SAMA diagnoses NHI bill with uncertainty and appeals to the NCOP to reject the bill in its current state

By Daanyaal Matthews The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has appealed to the National Council of Provinces to reject the National Health Insurance bill as it currently stands. The organization, that represents over ten thousand medical professionals, has cited issues of uncertainty regarding how the bill would effectively deal with challenges presented with public health infrastructure and the shortage of medical professionals. Speaking on VOC Breakfast on Tuesday morning, […]

25 July 2023

Local

Patients suffer as health workers strike

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) says it is unfortunate that patients are bearing the brunt of some health workers’ decision to embark on a nationwide strike. Workers affiliated to the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) started their strike on Tuesday, demanding a ten percent salary increase, a R2 500 housing allowance and improved medical aid benefits. SAMA vice chairperson Mvuyisi Mzukwa says it is incomprehensible for […]

9 March 2023

Local

Delays in intern placements worsen critical shortage of medical professionals

The critical shortage of medical professionals is worsened by delays to intern placements nationally. Dr Edward Ngwenya of the SA Medical Association (Sama) said the issue is an annual problem affecting the entire country. The shortage of healthcare professionals came under scrutiny during a parliamentary debate last month. It was revealed SA has less than 1 doctor per 1,000 patients. “This is deplorable,” Ngwenya said, adding that the doctor-to-patient ratio is widening every […]

18 June 2022

Local

Doctors show signs of emotional fatigue: SAMA

South African Medical Association (Sama) chairperson, Dr Angelique Coetzee, says doctors are now showing signs of emotional fatigue amid the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. She says the Department of Health should give doctors compulsory leave when possible to allow them some time to rest. Coetzee has expressed concern about young intern doctors being pressed into service against the coronavirus. “Our country is extremely poor prepared for any pandemic. […]

30 June 2021

Local

SAMA calls for tighter lockdown ahead of third wave

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has called on government to enforce stricter lockdown measures - saying some members of the public are not adhering to Covid19 health protocols. South Africa is operating under lockdown level two - amid the third wave of the coronavirus in parts of the country. The Health Department has recorded more than 5000 new daily cases for a forth consecutive day - taking the country's […]

6 June 2021

Local

SAMA welcomes halt of J&J COVID-19 vaccine rollout

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has welcomed Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize’s decision to temporarily halt the rollout of the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine while investigations into reports of rare blood clotting continue. The temporary suspension of the rollout comes after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that six cases of blood clotting were detected, following the rollout of more than 6.8 million doses of […]

14 April 2021

SAMA

SAMA diagnoses NHI bill with uncertainty and appeals to the NCOP to reject the bill in its current state

Patients suffer as health workers strike

Delays in intern placements worsen critical shortage of medical professionals

Doctors show signs of emotional fatigue: SAMA

SAMA calls for tighter lockdown ahead of third wave

SAMA welcomes halt of J&J COVID-19 vaccine rollout

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