By Katlego Sekhu

The CEO of Netcare Richard Friedland has warned that the shortage of nurses in South Africa is a serious problem that is having a negative impact on the healthcare system. He said that the shortage could hamper the company’s prospects of growth.
959 Breakfast with Sizwe Dhlomo (standing in for Dineo Ranaka) and Sol Phenduka spoke to Dr. Sthembile Mbethe, University of Pretoria’s Senior Lecture, to shed more light on the matter.
She says that there are two main factors contributing to the shortage of nurses in South Africa:
- The current training system is not efficient enough. There are too few institutions that can issue professional nursing qualifications, and the process of getting certified is too long and bureaucratic.
- The public sector has been hit by budget cuts, which has led to a decrease in the number of nursing jobs available.
Dr. Mbethe says that the government and the private sector need to work together to address the shortage of nurses. She suggests that they could do this by:
- Expanding the number of institutions that can train and certify nurses.
- Making it easier for nurses to find employment in the public sector.
- Offering more opportunities for professional development for nurses.
Read Next: Hammanskraal Resident blames the government for the death of her grandmother



