KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health Medical Officer (Grade 1,2,3) Vacancy 2026

Opportunity Overview

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health is seeking dedicated Medical Officers for its Internal Medicine component at Grey's Hospital in the Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Complex. This is an excellent opportunity for qualified medical practitioners to contribute to tertiary healthcare services within a dynamic public health environment.

As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, the department aims to achieve representivity across all occupational categories. Successful candidates will become part of a committed healthcare team providing essential services within the region.

Minimum Requirements

• Education:
• Senior Certificate (Grade 12) or equivalent qualification.
• MBCHB Degree or an equivalent medical qualification.
• Professional Registration:
• Current registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a Medical Practitioner in independent practice.
• Experience:
• Grade 1: Not applicable. For foreign-qualified candidates, 1 year of relevant experience after registration with a recognised Foreign Health Professional Council is required (for those not required to perform Community Service in South Africa).
• Grade 2: 5 years of appropriate experience as a Medical Officer after registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Practitioner. For foreign-qualified candidates, 6 years of relevant experience after registration with a recognised Foreign Health Professional Council is required (for those not required to perform Community Service in South Africa).
• Grade 3: 10 years of experience after registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Practitioner. For foreign-qualified candidates, 11 years of relevant experience after registration as a Medical Practitioner with a recognised foreign health professional council is required (for those not required to perform Community Service in South Africa).
• Employment Equity Target: African Male, African Female.
• Additional Qualifications/Information (Advantageous):
• Prior clinical care experience in Internal Medicine.
• Internal Medicine-specific certification/examinations through the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA), including the Diploma in Internal Medicine and FCP Part 1.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:
• Sound clinical and patient management skills.
• Human resource management skills.
• Information management skills.
• Quality assurance program knowledge.
• Knowledge of current health and public service legislation, regulations, policy, and medical ethics.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply clinical skills appropriate to delivering Internal Medicine services in a tertiary health care facility and referral centre like Grey’s Hospital.
• Perform duties as part of an extended health care team, providing 24-hour per day health care services.
• Undertake mandatory Group 3 Overtime (13–20 hours per week), subject to operational demands.
• Perform duties in Area 2 as determined by the Chief Specialist in Internal Medicine, which may include rotations between hospitals in the Pietermaritzburg metropole and outreach service to hospitals in Area 2.
• Perform tasks supporting clinical care as allocated by the management team.
• Participate in quality improvement programmes.
• Contribute to the development of the service by willingness to learn and teach, including undergraduate and intern teaching, and participate in academic activities of the department, including research.
• Participate in quality assessment initiatives and audits.
• Provide supervision and support to staff involved in health care services and facilitate the provision of health services.

What the Work Involves

As a Medical Officer in Internal Medicine at Grey's Hospital, you will be deeply involved in providing specialised clinical care within a tertiary healthcare setting. Your day-to-day work will focus on managing patients with complex internal medicine conditions, often referred from other facilities. You will be an integral part of an extended healthcare team, contributing to 24-hour service delivery, which includes mandatory overtime shifts.

Your duties may involve rotations across different hospitals within the Pietermaritzburg metropole and outreach services to other hospitals in Area 2, broadening your experience and impact. Beyond direct patient care, you will engage in tasks supporting overall clinical operations as directed by the management team. A significant aspect of this role involves participation in quality improvement programmes, academic activities, and research. You will also have the opportunity to contribute to the professional development of the team by teaching undergraduate students and interns, and by providing supervision and support to other healthcare staff. You will report to the Chief Specialist in Internal Medicine and work closely with the departmental management team.