Haniff Hoosen, the ID Spokesperson for Health, has welcomed the news that 226 striking doctors that were fired by the KZN Department of Health are being reinstated.

'Coming so soon after our Wednesday call for the reinstatement of the doctors we certainly welcome the decision. Government’s firing of the doctors would not have served as a solution in any way whatsoever to the ongoing crisis in the healthcare sector,’ Mr Hoosen says.

‘The ID reiterates our call for calm and for both sides to find a solution through a negotiated settlement. We are of course very pleased that the doctors are returning to work, where they are on the frontline of the delivery of medical services to the poor.

‘The priority for the Independent Democrats has been the lot of the poor and vulnerable patients and we are pleased that they have finally been put first,’ says Hoosen.

‘This whole saga points to a wider problem of an ailing public healthcare sector and the Department will need the buy-in of all stakeholders and staff to ensure that its ambitious plans for the sector are successful.

‘We in the Independent Democrats once again reiterate our support for National Health Insurance and we hope the Department will implement it carefully and speedily,’ Hoosen says.

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