The Association of surgeons of South Africa

28 th May 2009

The Association of Surgeons of South Africa (ASSA) have noted with great concern the current protests and industrial action that Medical Professionals have recently undertaken.

The ASSA has long been aware of the problems and disparities associated with remuneration in both the public and private sectors, and of the unacceptable working conditions in public hospitals. In an attempt to constructively address this matter, the ASSA commissioned an independent study into the remuneration and working conditions of General Surgeons in South Africa . This study was completed in 2005 and presented to the National Department of Health (NDoH) in 2006. Copies of the report were also given to the South African Medical Association (SAMA), the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) and the Health Professionals Council Association of South Africa (HPCSA).

We were informed by the NDoH that the proposed Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD) would go a long way to address the obviously unfair and glaring remuneration disparities which existed between the medical profession and other public servants. Regrettably, we felt misled by the NDoH when the proposed salary increases were finally announced, as they fell woefully short of correcting these gross disparities.

Private practice tariffs were supposed to have been aligned according to a practice cost based reference price schedule. Government has perpetuated the inequalities and below cost tariff structure without proper consultation and due process. The majority of specialist representative groups challenged NDoH legally, leading to NDoH retracting the so-called “reference price list” and acceding to their demands for a negotiated settlement on a justifiable tariff guideline

Furthermore, the delays, misrepresentation and lack of implementation of decisions have led to extreme dissatisfaction amongst medical doctors, driving them to breakpoint and public strike action.

The ASSA regrets that the NDoH, SAMA and the HPCSA did not act pro-actively to prevent the current crisis.

The ASSA fully supports the issues raised by protesting doctors and urges the NDoH and the medical profession to find an urgent solution to the worsening crisis.

We remain committed to uphold the principles, morals and ethics of our profession despite provocative adversity.

Professor Sats S. Pillay Chairperson ASSA	Professor Taole Mokoena President ASSA