Issued by: Department of Health
STATEMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN DOCTORS IN SOUTH AFRICA, ON 25 NOVEMBER 1995
South Africa acted on 15 September 1995 to make it much more difficult for doctors from neighbouring countries to come and work in South Africa unless they are sent by their own governments. At its first meeting, the Interim Medical and Dental Council of South Africa accepted a proposal that placed a moratorium on the limited registration of individual doctors who have qualified in foreign countries. The Council is investigating, instead, the possibilities of limited registration for groups of doctors recruited to work in particular areas in terms of government to government agreements.
A major reason for the proposal for a moratorium was to halt the flood of applications for limited registration coming from doctors in countries which do not have an access of doctors. Although South Africa is very short of doctors in rural and other underserved areas, the Department of Health does not want to deprive our neighbours of their scarce resources in order to meet our needs.
Government policy, as spelt out clearly in the RDP base documents, is to promote the development of health services throughout South Africa.
Enquiries: Lulu Sabake Tel : 012 - 312 0758 Pager : 012 - 323 1020 Code 31209