Medical brain drain puts SA in dire position

After 1994, South Africa emerged as an African economic powerhouse with a health-care system that was once the envy of the continent.

However, the country is facing a significant medical brain drain at a time when there is clear evidence that South African medical professionals possess some of the best skills in the world and will play an important role in economic growth in the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI).

The consequences of this brain drain are dire. As these skilled professionals leave, South Africa must grapple with challenging issues, including severe understaffing, overcrowded hospitals and a disparity in access to quality medical care.

Added to this is the vulnerability of rural communities as medical