THE CHALLENGES EXPERIENCED IN RETAINING CLINICAL STAFF AT RURAL GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL IN KWA-ZULU NATAL
Keywords:
Challenges, Clinical Staff, Rural, Government, Hospital, Health Professionals, Public Health, Workers, Policies, Financial Strategies, Quality HealthAbstract
Health professionals are considered a scarce commodity within the public health sector, particularly at rural facilities were the shortage of health workers is most noticeable. Despite government intervention through the implementation of various policies and financial strategies, the Department of Health is still faced with a huge challenge in retaining clinical staff at rural hospitals.
This is due to skilled health professionals such as doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses and allied health workers seeking employment out of rural facilities to urban areas and some are even lost to overseas job prospects. This places much pressure on the public health sector because it negatively affects the delivery of quality health service particularly in the rural and, disadvantaged areas.
