Top envoy says Saskatchewan’s aggressive recruitment of doctors is causing problems in South Africa
According to Dr. Abraham Sokhaya Nkomo, the South African High Commissioner to Canada, Saskatchewan’s doctor recruitment strategy is causing “grave health outcomes” in South Africa. In some areas there are only three doctors for every 100,000 patients. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan is aggressively drawing South African physicians with promises of lucrative perks and high salaries—there are already 277 practicing in the province. Nkomo says the province’s recruitment contributes to the poor health infrastructure in his country, which still hasn’t fully recovered from the days of apartheid. He admits his government can’t stop doctors from emigrating, but says a formal agreement with Canada aimed at slowing aggressive recruitment can benefit both countries without completely undercutting South African health care.