MEDICAL REGISTRAR: MEDICAL OFFICER IN TRAINING (SUPERNUMERARY REGISTRAR)

This position offers a structured specialist training opportunity for medical practitioners already serving within the Limpopo Department of Health. Appointed as a Medical Registrar, the successful candidate will be a Medical Officer in Training in a supernumerary capacity, meaning the post is created specifically to support formal postgraduate study while gaining practical clinical experience. The appointment is for a fixed-term training contract of four to five years, aligned with the training requirements of the Health Professions Council of South Africa and dependent on satisfactory academic progress. The role is open to a wide range of disciplines, including anaesthesiology, orthopaedics, radiation oncology, diagnostic radiology, ophthalmology, urology, neurosurgery, general surgery, emergency medicine, plastic surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, psychiatry, and internal medicine.

Candidates must meet several inherent requirements. They must already be employed by the Limpopo Department of Health and registered with the HPCSA as a Medical Practitioner in Independent Practice. Applicants need to have completed the Part I Fellowship examination in their chosen discipline, or alternatively hold an unfunded registrar placement with a recognised university. A minimum of twenty-four months of service within the Limpopo Department of Health, including community service, is required. Importantly, successful candidates must be willing to sign a month-for-month work-back agreement, with no option of financial payback, committing them to serve the department after completing their training. Relevant post-community service experience, a relevant postgraduate diploma, and a current Advanced Life Support or discipline-specific skills course are also listed as prerequisites.

The core duties of the registrar revolve around the clinical management of patients, which includes assessment, treatment, and ongoing care within the relevant specialty. The role also demands active participation in academic and training programmes, as well as conducting audits, research, and reporting. Teaching and supervision of students and junior staff form a significant part of the responsibilities, helping to build capacity within the department. In addition, the registrar will be expected to render after-hours and commuted overtime services, ensuring continuity of care across the health facility.

Successful candidates must secure university registration within three months of appointment. Failure to obtain or maintain this university registration will result in termination of the appointment. Registrars are also required to submit six-monthly academic and clinical progress reports to monitor their development. This is a demanding but rewarding opportunity for medical professionals seeking to specialise while contributing to public healthcare in Limpopo, with the assurance of a structured training pathway and a clear service commitment in return.