Pretoria - The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has reassured the public that no essential healthcare services will be disrupted on Wednesday when healthcare workers march to demand improved security at public hospitals.
"We shall advise our members who are participating in the march to ensure all essential departments remain covered, so as to avoid placing any life at risk," said SAMA chairman, Dr Norman Mabasa.
SAMA will join the Junior Doctors Association of South Africa (JUDASA) on 15 June, which they have declared a National Day of Mourning, in a march to Parliament in Cape Town, the Union Buildings in Pretoria and the Provincial Legislature in Durban.
This follows the brutal murder of Dr Senzosenkosi Mkhize, who was stabbed to death last week Tuesday by a patient at Middelburg Hospital while on duty attending to a patient.
Mabasa said SAMA resolved to support JUDASA, noting that it was not the first time a healthcare worker had been the victim of crime while on duty.
"SAMA deplores the lack of attention regarding security in our public health institutions. To date, many doctors, nurses, emergency personnel and patients alike have been killed and this situation cannot be tolerated or allowed to continue."
He also called on all doctors, nurses and allied healthcare workers to join in the march, where a memorandum will be presented to the Presidency at the Union Buildings, informing the Presidency of the plight of healthcare workers, and the dire state of many public institutions.
