/ 20 December 2009

Doctors to be paid

Doctors awaiting their Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD) will be paid on Monday, the department of health said on Saturday.

The SA Medical Association (Sama) said in a statement on Friday that many doctors had not been paid the once-off OSD gratuity payment months after they were supposed to have received it.

Health department spokesperson Charity Bengu said the department acknowledged there was a delay in the payment of the OSD to doctors.

”The matter has been detected by the department of health.

”Every effort was taken to correct the situation and doctors will be paid their OSD and they will receive their money in their bank accounts on Monday December 21,” said Bengu.

The balance of payment would be made on December 24, she said.

The OSD negotiation phase was concluded on June 30, and signed off by the department. Health department spokesperson Fidel Hadebe said it was possible that some doctors had not been paid because they had not submitted their personal details.

Massive strikes by health workers rocked the country earier this year, as years of underpaying came to a head. – Sapa