Department places over 1500 medical interns

Sunday, May 20, 2018

The Department of Health has placed over 1500 medical interns and 1300 community service doctors for the 2018 and 2019 annual cycle.

The department said all interns and community service doctors who studied at South African universities and were eligible for placement for the 2018 annual cycle have been allocated and offered a placement.

Those who became eligible between the 1st January and April 2018 cycle have been processed and their employment contracts are being finalised by provincial departments with a commencement date of 1 June 2018, the national department said.

The department assured that those South African students who studied at South African universities who are repeating blocks and medical interns who were not eligible by May 2018 will be allocated during the mid-year cycle and start their employment from 01 July 2018.

The South African-born citizens who studied Medicine abroad and passed the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) Board Exams will be accommodated once a policy has been finalised on graduates with qualifications that are not prescribed by the HPCSA has been finalised.

Meanwhile, the department said it is also finalising a circular which will provide some clear guidelines and procedures to be followed when allocating the medical internships and community service, and related appointments for permanent residents, refugees and all other non-South Africans.

In addition, a guideline explaining the allocation rules and project plan for the 2019 allocation cycle is currently being discussed with stakeholders while registration will open in June and will be accompanied by roadshows at universities and colleges.

Medical students with enquiries related to the allocation can call the helpdesk on 087 012 5082 or send an email to icsp@dhmis.org. –SAnews.gov.za