Doctor shortage hits Matabeleland North Province

Matabeleland North Provincial Medical Director Dr Nyasha Masuka confirmed that the province has a shortage of medical doctors and has a ratio of one doctor per 46 000 people or more compared to the accepted ratio of one doctor per 1 000 people.

Dr Masuka proposed the introduction of incentives to lure doctors to the province. Said Dr Masuka:

We are failing to attract doctors to the province and as such it is a big challenge to service the communities. We are now being forced to refer a number of patients to neighbouring provinces like Bulawayo. Matabeleland North has the least number of doctors in the country with just 16 doctors out of an establishment of 45.

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