• SA is producing more doctors than ever, yet doctor shortages persist in public sector hospitals and clinics, particularly in rural areas. 
• Two things drive this dilemma. The first is that the government often doesn’t have enough money to employ more doctors. The second is that medical graduates don’t want to work in rural areas in the long term, meaning that rural hospitals struggle to attract and retain doctors even when they have the money. 
• One way of fixing shortages in rural areas is to admit more people from rural towns into medical school. This is because people from far-flung areas are more likely to return to practise there than those who come from cities.

This story was produced by the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism. Sign up for the newsletter.