South Africa is facing a troubling paradox in its healthcare system: despite a severe shortage of doctors—only 0.31 per 1,000 people, far below the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum of one—between 1,500 and 1,800 doctors who completed their community service by early 2025 are unemployed. Public healthcare facilities simultaneously report vacancy rates of 5% to 22%, underscoring a critical mismatch between workforce availability and system demand.

To address this, Profmed has launched a support initiative through its finDR platform, offering 12 months of free medical aid to unemployed or recently employed doctors and dentists under 30. Eligibility requires completion of community service within the last two years and registration on finDR, which also facilitates job placements, offers mentorship, and connects professionals to a broader medical community.

Originally launched in February 2025 with an initial offer of six months of free medical aid for the first 500 sign-ups, finDR has seen rapid uptake, with over 560 doctors registering in its first week and more than 800 by the time of the latest update. The platform uses an intelligent matching system to align job opportunities with candidates’ skills and location preferences, while helping healthcare practices address staffing shortages and reduce patient wait times.

Profmed CEO Craig Comrie emphasises that this initiative is more than a benefits offering—it’s a strategic effort to prevent young medical professionals from being sidelined early in their careers. The campaign is designed to support and empower South Africa’s future doctors as they enter a critical and demanding workforce.