South Africa is facing a perplexing dilemma in its healthcare system, marked by a shortage of medical professionals in certain areas of the country, while hundreds of qualified doctors remain unemployed.
In response to this issue, new initiatives are beginning to take shape.
On Wednesday, Profmed introduced www.finDR.doctor, a platform designed to help connect qualified young doctors seeking jobs with healthcare facilities in need of their skills.
Profmed’s CEO, Craig Comrie, calls it “a critical intervention” at a time when solutions are urgently needed.
The platform, according to Profmed, aims to create job opportunities and also offers an incentive of six months of free Profmed medical aid to the first 100 unemployed graduate doctors under 30 who sign up for finDR.
“finDR is the result of Profmed’s long-standing dedication to supporting the medical profession, a core mission since the 1960s. With finDR, we’re not only addressing the employment gap for doctors but also alleviating pressure on our healthcare system, making quality care more accessible throughout South Africa,” says Comrie.
### Unemployed Doctors in the Healthcare System
In January 2025, the South African Medical Association (SAMA) raised concerns about over 1,800 qualified doctors who have completed their community service but cannot find employment.
The South African Medical Association Trade Union (SAMATU) echoed these concerns, as unemployed doctors protested in Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape earlier this year, demanding jobs in the face of widespread unemployment.
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Dr. Cedric Sihlangu, SAMATU’s general secretary, emphasized that the healthcare sector’s major challenge is the large number of unemployed doctors who have finished their community service.
Despite years of intensive training and an urgent need for healthcare in many regions, these doctors find themselves in a state of uncertainty.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi addressed the issue, acknowledging the increasing pressure on the Department of Health to hire these doctors. However, he noted that budget constraints are limiting new appointments and advised them to consider opportunities in the private sector or overseas.
