Phaahla: R950m needed to address shortage of nurses

Public hospitals are short-staffed and it will require nearly a billion rand to address the crisis.

JOHANNESBURG - It will cost nearly a billion rand to resolve the nurse shortage crisis.

That's according to the Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla.

READ: SA’s health emergency | Concern over critical nursing shortage

Netcare and Life Healthcare are warning the shortage threatens both the public and private sectors.

They say they are able to offer training, but government is limiting the numbers they are allowed to train.

READ: Concerns over shortage of nurses in SA

Phaahla says he's aware of staffing issues and he's approached Treasury for help.

"Just in terms of the immediate basic needs, we did indicate that across the board, we need an amount of just under a billion rand, about R950-million which is required just to be able to make sure that we can meet the basic needs," Phaahla said.

"It's not something which we're oblivious of, it's a matter we're taking it up with our colleagues who manage resources of the country."

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