FACTORS INFLUENCING THE RELOCATION OF MEDICAL DOCTORS FROM DR. RUTH SEGOMOTSI MOMPATI DISTRICT TO URBAN AREAS

Abstract

Like many developing countries, South Africa is facing the problem of skills migration, especially those of the essential skills of medical doctors. As a response to this urgent need for quality healthcare, the South African government has made an effort to deliver quality health care services to communities, especially to rural and previously underserved areas. This service delivery is hampered by the relocation of medical practitioners from rural to urban areas. The aim of the research was to gain insight into the factors that influence the relocation of medical doctors from Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District to urban areas. The focus is on Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District because it is one of the most rural districts in the North West Province. The study presents an analysis of the operational issues that stifles the implementation of the recruitment and retention policy of the Department of Health to identify the factors that lead to the relocation of doctors from rural to urban areas that might been overlooked, or were not included in the policy, and hence, is a continuation of this problem. The study also looked at policy interventions that were made, and whether these interventions were effectively implemented or whether the intervention was relevant or not. Although the study was mainly focused on Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district of the North West province, factors leading to international migration, national migration and internal relocation of medical practitioners between provinces were looked at to identify whether the causes for relocation at district level and at national and international level have similar causal factors The study used questionnaires to ask medical doctors what they regard as the factors that would make them stay in the rural areas and these factors are as follows: Less work load, good salary and incentives, state of the art accommodation, quality medical equipment, recruitment of more nursing personnel, support from management, infrastructural improvement, professional development, family support e.g. child education, security and transport and less crime. Therefore the study recommends that job satisfaction which will improve the retention of medical doctors in rural areas should be improved as well as security issues should be addressed.