The Gauteng province's Department of Health in South Africa mistakenly paid 3.9 million rand (around $225,000) to seven Cuban doctors who had already departed the country. These medical professionals continued to receive their salaries for a year due to an administrative blunder, sparking significant criticism about the department's management practices in the African nation, as reported by local media.
Jack Bloom, a member of the opposition DA party, unveiled the incident, explaining that the error occurred after 28 Cuban doctors were hired for a year to assist in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the contracts for seven of them were irregularly extended, leading to continued payments despite their absence from the country, Bloom elaborated. He emphasized the seriousness of the situation, expressing astonishment that funds were disbursed to doctors not present to perform their duties.
Currently, the Department of Health is attempting to recover the money, but 2.7 million rand remains unresolved. It is unclear if the hiring was conducted through the Cuban government's agency responsible for exporting medical professionals, potentially funneling the money into the regime's coffers. During the COVID-19 crisis, Cuba dispatched thousands of doctors to various countries, many within Africa.
Financial Strain and Local Unemployment
In April, it was revealed that the Gauteng province's Department of Health annually spends $745,652 (equivalent to 14.3 million rand) on employing 11 Cuban doctors, despite a significant number of unemployed local medical professionals. Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, the Health and Wellness Minister of this province, which includes Johannesburg, disclosed this information during a consultation with opposition political groups in the provincial legislature. She noted that Cuban doctors' salaries range from 1 to 1.6 million rand annually, equating to $52,522 and $84,016, respectively.
Out of the total professionals, four were stationed in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Health District, three in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Health District, and two in the Sedibeng Metropolitan Health District, with one each at Thelle Mogoerane Hospital and Tembisa Hospital.
Bilateral Agreement and Historical Context
The exportation of Cuban doctors to South Africa stems from a bilateral agreement signed in 1996 between the two nations. This pact, established by Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro, was aimed at improving primary healthcare in South Africa, according to Naledi Pandor, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation. Under this agreement, South Africa sends hundreds of medical students to Cuban schools, with tuition funded by the South African government, in exchange for Cuban doctors working in South Africa's public health system.