Twenty-eight years after the first South African students left for Cuba to study medicine, an increasing number are in senior leadership positions in healthcare

The health sectors in both countries are under pressure, with professionals either leaving or striking for better pay and working conditions

Still, the South African Medical Association says government doctors in the country aren’t paid enough

South Africa has close to 700 medical doctors who haven’t been able to find a job in the public sector since qualifying

But there are still not enough vacancies for junior doctors, according to the minister

Minister blames shortages in the public health sector on budget constraints and the fact that doctors are reluctant to work in rural areas

WHO red list fails to prevent rich countries from poaching healthcare workers from countries where those workers are in short supply

A five-day strike by medical staff froze the country’s ailing hospitals, but although the government was forced to pay attention, it is refusing to pay in American currency

South Africa is training more doctors than ever but there isn’t enough money to employ them, leaving about 14% of hospital posts for doctors vacant and 20% at clinics in 2021

More than 2 400 interns and over 2 200 community service doctors are still awaiting placements, which are necessary to complete the statutory requirements so they can practice

Doctors take a ‘leave of purpose’ from their normal jobs to experience a stint at the Tshemba Foundation that will change their patients’ lives, as well as theirs

Doctors say the threat of conviction — despite their best intentions — affects their mental health

Dr Zolelwa Sifumba went from being a frontline healthcare worker to stepping back from clinical work. She speaks to Elna Schütz about her shift into more open spaces

Study finds most South Africans rely on healthcare workers for vaccine advice

Despite the life-threatening anarchy occurring in areas where we work, one is still expected to show up and replace fear and anxiety with warmth and enthusiasm

Selling medication without a license to prescribe or dispense it is illegal, and can lead to a hefty fine or imprisonment

Doctors praise initiative that gives them a break in the bush while they treat poor patients

But it needs urgent support from governments and the private sector

Health workers have been prioritised and the electronic data system tightened between the arrival of the first and second batches of vials

With doctors in short supply, healthcare employers need to invest in intelligent technologies to make the experience of accessing healthcare as good as it can be, for all involved