The Gauteng Department of Health has budgeted R612,719,892 for the compensation of 551 foreign medical professionals, including doctors, specialists, nurses, and technicians, in the 2026-27 financial year, with 11 Cuban doctors alone receiving a combined R14 million per year, departmental figures and officials confirmed.

Details On Compensation And Staffing

Faith Mazibuko, MEC for Health and Wellness, stated that the department employs 551 foreign medical professionals and that “for the 2026-27 financial year, the department budgeted a staggering R612,719,892 for foreigners’ compensation.” According to the Democratic Alliance Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom, the province pays 11 Cuban doctors between R1.2 million and R1.64 million annually, totalling R14 million per year. In 2022, Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi said 14 Cuban doctors were receiving between R78,000 and R90,000 per month, with officials confirming substantial remuneration packages for these posts.

By comparison, the average monthly salary for a physician in Gauteng is R56,589, according to publicly available salary data, which is approximately 31% above the national average but still below the packages reported for some Cuban medical staff. Gauteng’s use of Cuban and other foreign professionals is not unprecedented, but has drawn renewed scrutiny as the spending figures have reached record levels.

Ongoing Debate Over Local Employment And Resource Allocation

The department’s continued employment of foreign medical professionals has been met with criticism, particularly amid a context of unemployed South African doctors. Jack Bloom, speaking in April 2024, said “the Gauteng Health Department is spending R14 million per year on 11 Cuban doctors despite the large number of unemployed South African doctors.” The department, however, has defended the recruitment of foreign medical staff as necessary to address skills shortages in critical care and rural areas.

Health sector workers and advocacy groups have called for a review of hiring and compensation practices, urging the department to prioritise local doctors for newly created posts and to ensure employment opportunities for South African graduates. Previous policy statements from the department have highlighted an ongoing need for specialised medical skills, but the substantial sums allocated for foreign compensation remain under scrutiny ahead of future budget cycles.

Further responses are expected from the Gauteng Department of Health and provincial government as budget planning for the 2026-27 financial year progresses and political parties continue to debate local employment strategies in the public health sector.