Banjul, November 25, 2024 — A recent study, published in the Orapuh Journal on November 9, 2024, sheds light on the critical shortage of radiographers in KwaZulu-Natal’s public healthcare sector. Authored by Dr. N. Cibane (Management College of Southern Africa, Durban) and Prof. M. Hoque (Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria), the research highlights systemic challenges and offers a framework to improve recruitment and retention of radiographers in the region.

Radiographers Shortage in KwaZulu-Natal: The Current Reality

The study identifies a growing disparity in radiographer-to-patient ratios within KwaZulu-Natal’s public healthcare system. While the private sector attracts more professionals with better incentives and opportunities, public hospitals face high turnover due to factors like burnout, lack of career progression, and inadequate policy implementation.

Key Study Findings

The research utilised a sequential exploratory mixed-methods approach, combining:

  • Document review of policies.
  • A survey of 220 radiographers using a stratified random sampling method.
  • Interviews with ten radiography managers from public hospitals.

Major findings include:

  • Underrepresentation of radiographers in decision-making roles and lack of advisory boards.
  • Key factors influencing job dissatisfaction, including burnout (p=0.007) and inadequate incentives (p=0.030).
  • Barriers such as poor workplace conditions, limited career growth, and insufficient policy execution.

Proposed Framework for Recruitment and Retention

To address these challenges, the study suggests a comprehensive framework, emphasising:

  1. Advocacy for radiography representation in healthcare policy-making.
  2. Enhanced implementation of recruitment policies, with regular monitoring.
  3. Workplace improvements to reduce burnout and improve job satisfaction.
  4. Career development opportunities to retain talent.

Why This Study Matters

“This framework is vital for improving the sustainability of public healthcare in KwaZulu-Natal, ensuring better health outcomes for the population,” said Dr. N. Cibane, lead author of the study.

A Roadmap for Action

The findings urge healthcare policymakers to prioritise radiography within the public sector to tackle staff shortages and improve service delivery.

For full details, read the article in Volume 5, Issue 6 of the Orapuh Journal, titled Developing a Practical Framework for the Recruitment and Retention of Radiographers in the Public Sector of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.

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