Medical Doctor salary in South Africa in 2021: The South African health sector has evolved over the years to become a leading and compelling sector that contributes significantly to the national economy and that of other countries.
Despite significant limitations, the South African Medical Profession is thriving, boasting one of the strongest medical education systems in Africa. As a result, South African doctors are in high demand throughout the world.
Do you want to know the salary for medical doctor in south Africa? Then you have landed in the right domain!
Previously, we discussed the Average Medical Doctor Salary in Canada 2021.
Today, this Article examines the Medical Profession in South Africa in greater detail; I believe that by the end of this Article, you will have a better understanding of How to Become a Doctor in South Africa and the various salary paid to medical Doctor in South Africa according to their area of Specialization.
Medical Doctor Salary in South Africa in 2021
To learn more about prior years’ salaries for medical professionals in South Africa (SA), I advise you to watch the YouTube video below:
Who Is A Physician?
A Medical Doctor is a highly skilled primary health care professional who practices medicine and specializes in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of patients, as well as the maintenance and restoration of health through the study, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of diseases, patients, injuries, and other medical impairments.
Medical Doctor Salary in South Africa
Due to the impossibility of having a randomly defined salary structure for Medical Doctors in South Africa, we are unable to ascertain the exact salary that a Doctor earns in South Africa.
However, for the sake of clarity, I believe it is necessary to evaluate the Salary of Doctors in South Africa according to their field of Specialization.
Here are the following areas of specialty we will look at in this article:
Medical Doctor Salary In South Africa By Specialty
1) Physician
A physician, particularly a generalist, is responsible for practically all aspects of health care, including evaluating patients, diagnosing illnesses, and prescribing appropriate therapy.
Physicians are responsible for diagnosing and treating injuries and illnesses. Additional tasks include the following:
- Advise on nutrition, hygiene, and preventative care
- Conducting patient examinations
- Medication prescribing
- Diagnostic tests: ordering, administering, and interpreting
- Obtaining and preserving medical records
Physicians are classified into two categories: medical doctors (MD) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DO) (DO). They employ similar treatment modalities, such as medicines and surgery, but DOs place a greater emphasis on the musculoskeletal system, preventative medicine, and holistic patient care.
In South Africa, the average annual salary of a physician is R 614,000.
2) Oncologist
An oncologist is a physician who specializes in the treatment of cancer, one of the primary diseases afflicting the South African population.
Medical oncology is a subspecialty of medicine that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. A medical oncologist’s role is to treat cancer patients with chemotherapeutic agents, hormone treatment, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.
A medical oncologist will collaborate with other doctors to develop the optimal treatment strategy for you. They will discuss your cancer diagnosis with you, including the kind and stage. Additionally, they will assist you in managing cancer symptoms and medication side effects.
In South Africa, an oncologist typically earns between R437,163 and R437,163 per year.
3) Dermatologist: Medical Doctor Salary In South Africa- R380,000
A dermatologist is a physician that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin, hair, and nail infections. They are typically in charge of performing skin surgery and treating common skin conditions such as skin cancer, warts, fungal infections, eczema, acne, dermatitis, and psoriasis.
Dermatology is a subspecialty of medicine that focuses on skin diseases. Dermatology encompasses diseases affecting your skin, nails, hair, and the delicate lining of your eyelids, nose, and mouth.
Your skin is the greatest organ in your body. It arrives with nerve endings, sweat glands, hair follicles, pores, and blood vessels. Taking care of it is critical for your overall wellness.
While general practitioners and internists are capable of diagnosing and treating similar diseases, a dermatologist has a broader understanding and more expertise. Indeed, many general care physicians will refer their patients for specialized care to dermatologists.
Furthermore, they are a subset of physicians who specialize in diagnosing and treating disorders affecting the hair, skin, and nails. Additionally, they address disorders affecting the mucous membranes, which are the delicate tissues that line the nose, mouth, and eyelids.
Dermatologists make an average annual salary of R380,000 in South Africa.
4) Radiologist
A radiologist is a physician who specializes in the performance and interpretation of diagnostic imaging tests and interventional treatments that utilize X-RAY and other advanced 3D technologies to diagnose and identify a patient’s health concern.
Diagnostic radiologists can specialize in a variety of subspecialties, including mammography and breast procedures, cardiovascular radiography, gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal radiology, and other subspecialties such as pediatrics, emergency medicine, and cancer.
This is a highly sought-after career as technical improvements have identified new applications for medical imaging and less intrusive, more accurate diagnostic approaches.
Radiology has several subspecialties, including radiology assistants, technicians, and radiation therapists. These health workers support physicians in performing treatments and observing patients. Frequently, the radiologic technologist runs the equipment and interacts directly with the patient in order to capture images.
Outside the United States and Canada, the name “radiologist” refers to one of these assistant branches. The radiologist evaluates the medical images produced by MRIs, CT scans, X-rays, and ultrasounds and must be proficient in the operation of all types of imaging equipment.
Additionally, he or she administers radioactive materials to the patient for the purpose of obtaining medical imaging. Radiologists that work in major hospitals or health care systems frequently specialize.
In South Africa, an average income for a radiologist is R301,000.
5) Gastroenterologist: Medical Doctor Salary In South Africa- R300,000
Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine that deals with the digestive tract and its associated organs.
Gastroenterologists are physicians who have received further training in diagnosing and treating disorders of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and liver. Additionally, these physicians perform common procedures such as colonoscopies, which examine the inside of the colon. Following medical school, they receive a 5- to 6-year specialized education.
These are physicians who specialize in the study, diagnosis, and treatment of digestive system and stomach disorders.
They receive an annual salary of approximately R300,000 on average.
6) Surgeon
A surgeon is a physician who specializes in performing surgical procedures to prevent the spread of disease, rectify abnormalities, heal injuries, and enhance the appearance and functionality of the body.
Surgery entails the removal of tissues from a patient or the closure of a previously incurred wound. Internal surgery can be conducted on either a human or an animal to repair or diagnose internal abnormalities.
Surgeons perform surgery in response to illness, injury, or disease and are capable of performing a wide variety of different surgical treatments on the body. Occasionally, procedures are performed to repair internal bleeding or to determine the cause of internal bleeding.
Surgeons perform specialized operations and supervise all parts of the surgical procedure. They supervise surgical personnel and ensure that all operating room standards of care and safety are followed.
Surgeons can undertake minimally invasive and straightforward treatments in a matter of minutes or more invasive and difficult procedures that can span several hours. Because human life is at stake, surgeons must be vigilant, prepared for any type of emergency, and capable of performing lifesaving measures at any point throughout an operation.
In South Africa, the average annual compensation for a general surgeon is R 650,000.
7) Neurosurgeon: Medical Doctor Salary In South Africa- R 830,000.
The nervous system is a complex network of threadlike nerves and cells that transmit and receive messages between the brain and spinal cord and other regions of the body, including sensory organs, arms, hands, legs, and feet.
Neurosurgery (or neurological surgery) is a medical speciality devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of disorders, illnesses, and accidents affecting the nervous system and its supporting components.
This category encompasses disorders affecting the brain, the spinal cord, the nerves themselves, the skull, the spine’s bones, and spinal disks, as well as the blood vessels, ligaments, and protective coverings that surround the neurological tissues.
Neurosurgeons, neurologists, and other healthcare providers collaborate to provide complete inpatient care to patients suffering from complex neurological illnesses. Neurologists frequently collaborate with neurosurgeons but do not do surgery themselves.
A neurosurgeon’s intervention might be surgical or non-surgical, depending on the nature of the ailment or injury and the patient’s overall health
. These disorders can be congenital (present at birth), degenerative (as a result of aging or “wear and tear”), traumatic (as a result of a specific injury), infectious, or neoplastic (as a result of a tumor), or they can be secondary to another medical condition or disease.
The average income for a neurosurgeon is R 830,000.
8) Pediatrics
Commonly referred to as Pediatricians, these are physicians that specialize in the physical, mental, and emotional health of children from infancy to puberty.
Pediatricians are concerned with the health of infants, children, and adolescents. They provide physical, mental, and emotional care to their patients. They conduct diagnostic tests to ascertain a patient’s medical status and offer treatments, therapies, drugs, and immunizations to treat illnesses, diseases, and injuries.
Additionally, they treat children who have minor injuries, acute and chronic health problems, as well as physiological and psychological growth and developmental issues.
Pediatricians counsel and educate children, as well as their parents or guardians, about diet, hygiene, and disease prevention. Pediatrics is a collaborative specialty, which means that primary care pediatricians may send patients to a medical expert if they exhibit symptoms of a significant medical problem in order to address the issue promptly.
Pediatrics is a stimulating and demanding discipline to work in. Additionally, it is a very broad field that can present doctors with a plethora of possibilities. After completing a three-year pediatric residency program, approximately a third of physicians choose to continue their education by enrolling in a three-year fellowship program.
A pediatrician earns an average of R470,000 per year in South Africa.
9) Ophthalmologists: Medical Doctor Salary In South Africa- R 350,000
These category of Doctors are highly trained eye physicians and surgeons who specialize in the anatomy, physiology, diagnosis, and treatment of eye problems.
They are primarily concerned with fixing flaws and treating eye disorders that are known to impair or eliminate eyesight.
Also, They examine the patient’s eye, identify any abnormalities discovered, intervene to protect the patient’s sense of sight, and monitor the patient’s condition for improvement.
They also determine and prescribe the corrective lens grade for people who require glasses, and may even establish their own private practice selling corrective lenses.
Additionally, an ophthalmologist will do eye surgeries such as cataract removal, lens replacement, corneal reshaping, transplants, retinal detachment repair, and glaucoma treatment.
While the bulk of these treatments are frequently conducted using lasers and automated surgical equipment, the majority are still performed by hand.
Ophthalmologists can also perform surgery on animals, as the structure and physiology of the eye are very similar amongst closely related species. A veterinary eye doctor, on the other hand, is frequently regarded a distinct specialty with its own licensing and regulation.
While ophthalmologists are generally thought to be entirely dedicated to the research and treatment of the human eye, some may find veterinary ophthalmology to be a more appealing field of practice.
Ophthalmologists typically make an annual salary of R 350,000.
N/B: Average Salary is calculated by dividing the salaries of all doctors specializing in that area, regardless of their level, by the total number of doctors working in that area.
How to train as a physician in South Africa
In South Africa, becoming a doctor involves approximately 7-8 years of academic study. This voyage entails the following:
1) Passing the Senior Secondary School examination and all required external examinations aimed at gaining admission to a higher institution to study medicine.
2) Enrolling at a South African Medical University to earn a Bachelor’s degree. This typically takes between 5 and 6 years, assuming you do not fail.
3) Obtaining a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MbchB) degree after successfully completing your undergraduate courses.
4) Acquiring the essential qualifications to practice as a physician in South Africa.
5) One of these requirements is to complete a two-year Clinical Internship, which provides a comprehensive education in medicine and medical specialization.
This program does not need examinations, but rather the completion of a logbook following rotation through all of the prescribed domains throughout the Internship.
6) Upon completion of this Internship Program, you will be registered as a Medical Doctor with the Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPSCA), and as required by law and permitted by the HPSCA, you will be expected to fulfill a one-year Compulsory Community Service.
If you meet all of the aforementioned conditions, you will be registered and licensed to practice medicine in South Africa.
Wrapping Up on the Medical Doctor Salary In South Africa 2021
In conclusion, aside from the area of specialization of doctors in South Africa, other significant variables of the actual salary earned by each doctor in South Africa are the doctor’s level of training, level of experience, quantity of overtime, industry, and place of employment. Thus, each Doctor’s Salary is unique in light of the aforementioned determinants.
We hope you have learnt all about the Medical doctor salary in South Africa. Do you have any questions? Use the section below and get response immediately!
