If the Democratic Alliance came to power, it would abolish compulsory community service for doctors in favour of an incentive-based system to work in rural areas.
Briefing the media at parliament on Thursday on the party's health policy, DA health spokesperson Sandy Kalyan said compulsory service abused the human rights of doctors.
"The reasoning behind community service is a good one, but the manner in which it is carried out is incorrect. The student intern is given no choice.
"I know the rural communities suffer the most, but instead of forcing them (doctors), turn it into an incentive-based system," she said.
"Posts would be graded on a deprivation index, with the more inhospitable posts being accompanied by higher pay and other incentives." Students who committed to serving in the public sector for at least a year after qualifying would be given the better posts.
Currently, medical students have to undergo two years of community service after completing their studies.
Kalyan said the DA would also decentralise the Health Ministry and create provincial health services. "The central Health Ministry would determine national policy, set targets and ensure equity in the distribution of resources and skills."
A medical ombudsman would also be put in place to protect the rights of patients.
She said the non-governmental health services would be incorporated into the national health system so that these organisations could access state funds.
State hospitals would be run as semi-autonomous units, equivalent to parastatals.
"They would be funded on the basis of the number of patients they treat, with indigent patients receiving the highest subsidy," she said.
The DA would rebuild dilapidated hospitals through public-private partnerships. Generic drugs and bulk purchasing would bring down drug costs. - Sapa