Bloemfontein – The Free State Department of Health has terminated Covid-19 employment contracts of more than 1 300 officials hired at the height of the pandemic.
The department announced the move to terminate the contracts on Thursday, (24 October 2024).
These contracts were initiated by the National Department of Health in 2020 as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The department said it had contracted 1 340 officials as part of the strengthening of the province’s healthcare system.
“This was a proactive measure in preparation for any possible influx of patients who may need care at various health facilities throughout the province,” the department said.
The proactive measures also included health services in “frontline areas including administration and community health care services”. When the Covid-19 infection rates subsided and the disease was brought under control, the department said it integrated the functions of these officials.
The department said the contracted officials were placed in other areas, where there was “a dire need to fill some gaps and alleviate some weaknesses”.
Human resources, infrastructure, and health care financing sections have been “challenging areas that have troubled the health system even before 1994”, the department said.
The pandemic exposed vulnerabiities to the burden of diseases and how the healthcare system needed to be repositioned.
The department said it has done all that it can over the years to extend the lifespan of the Covid-19 employment contracts by way of creating permanent job opportunities.
In that regard, the department advertised vacant positions and encouraged the Covid-19 contract workers to apply.
The department said it has been prioritising the Covid-19 contract workers as and when there were opportunities to fill vacant funded posts and this resulted in the retention of some.
However, the department said it was “unfortunately in the situation where it cannot sustain the payment of Covid-19 [contract] salaries”.
In a statement, the department said, “it would like to take this opportunity to also clarify that in terms of the government recruitment processes, there is nothing called ‘absorption’.
“All recruitment processes are subjected to the regulations of the Department of Public Service and Administration, which require that a transparent recruitment process be followed in filling of posts.”
The department acknowledged the huge impact that was made by the presence of Covid-19 contract workers in the provision of healthcare services during the height of the pandemic and beyond.
“We take this opportunity to thank you for your selfless service,” the department said.
“However, it is regrettable that the department is not in a position to continue with your services due to financial constraints and thus has to terminate the contracts.”
