Relief as EC health department halts circular slashing overtime

Relief as EC health department halts circular slashing overtime

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has claimed victory after the Eastern Cape Department of Health halted the implementation of a circular on commuted overtime.

The decision came after SAMA and other relevant stakeholders raised their concerns about implementing Circular 34 of 2024 on commuted overtime.

EASTERN CAPE HEALTH HALTS CIRCULAR ON COMMUTED OVERTIME 

Many stakeholders have raised their concerns about the circular which threatens the income of medical doctors in public hospitals whic are already facing a shortage of doctors.

“Pursuant to our virtual meeting held on the 3rd of May 2024, please be informed that,

Circular No.34 of 2024 is being put in abeyance, pending the change management engagement sessions with all the stakeholders, which will be concluded within six months,” the department said.

DA GAUTENG RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT LATEST CIRCULAR 

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has also raised concerns about the circular saying it threatens to cut the overtime of doctors in Gauteng public hospitals by a quarter as the overtime budget has been slashed from R3.45 billion to R2.65 billion.

Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko confirmed the budget cut in a written reply to DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health and Wellness Jack Bloom.

In the response, the MEC said the overtime changes have been made to address inequalities and irregularities on the approval and management of commuted overtime.

Nkomo-Ralehoko said this will lead to a reduction in paid overtime “where there are disparities on the payment of certain categories of clinicians.”

Bloom said doctors have been forced to sign new three-month overtime contracts and many were not paid overtime for April this year.

“R3.45 billion was spent in the last financial year ending on 31 March, only R2.65 million is budgeted for this year, justifying fears that they will suffer a large pay cut.

“The Gauteng Health Department claims the overtime budget cut in the new financial year starting from April is due to terminations, promotions and new appointees. This is a poor excuse which covers up the fact that patients in short-staffed hospitals will suffer as less overtime will be worked by essential doctors,” Bloom said.