Foreign-trained doctors accuse HPCA of ignoring calls for board exams

Medical graduates from several provinces, including KZN, say they are unable to start practising, despite a shortage of medical professionals across the country. 

One graduate, who preferred to remain anonymous, said she finished her studies in China some five years ago.

She still has not had an opportunity to write her board exam here.

"This problem has gone back to 2014, and we have tried multiple times to contact the HPCSA. 

"Recently, we had to go through an extra effort where people from all over South Africa had to find alternate means of getting transportation and going to HPCSA offices to protest so that we can be heard as all alternate routes have failed. 

"HPCSA has not responded to our emails. They take a minimum of two months to get back to a simple enquiry about our process."

Another doctor says the HPCSA needs to stop dragging its heels.

"The truth of the matter is each year, there are hundreds if not thousands of graduates who apply for the process to sit for the board exam, and in the past, only several hundred, if not one hundred or two hundred of them are invited to write the board exam. There are supposed to be two board exams annually."

The council has blamed the delays in registration on administrative challenges, saying it's working to clear the backlog.