A South African resolution expressing concern over the continued international migration and recruitment of health personnel will be tabled at the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva.

Health services in South Africa are being compromised as the country continues to experience a shortage of critical health personnel. Two months after the Minister of Health promised to release the all-important national human resources plan to address the under-staffed public sector, there is no sign of it yet.

An inadequate budget, a chronic shortage of staff and a deep gap in management undermine the quality of health care at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. Unions, government, and hospital management all agree that remedial action is necessary.

Where many nurses have left the public health sector for greener pastures elsewhere, there are still those who remain dedicated to their work. One such veteran has been at her post at Chris Hani Baragwanath for 34 years.