The South African Medical Association (SAMA) is a non-statutory,

professional association A professional association (also called a professional body, professional organization, or professional society) usually seeks to advocacy, further a particular profession, the interests of individuals and organisations engaged in that professio ...

for public- and private-sector

medical practitioners A health professional, healthcare professional, or healthcare worker (sometimes abbreviated HCW) is a provider of health care treatment and advice based on formal training and experience. The field includes those who work as a nurse, physician (suc ...

in South Africa. Registered as a

non-profit organisation A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

it acts as a

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

for its public-sector members. It is affiliated with the

Congress of South African Trade Unions The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is a trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions ...

(COSATU). Membership is voluntary, with some 70% of doctors in South Africa currently registered as members. The head office is situated in

Pretoria Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa. Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends ...

, South Africa.

History

On 21 May 1998, the association was established from a merger between the Medical Association of South Africa, founded in 1927, and the Progressive Doctors' Group. In 1999, it became affiliated with the National Medical Alliance, along with the South African Medical and Dental Practitioners, Society of Dispensing Family Practitioners, Family Practitioners Association, Dispensing Family Practitioners Association, and the Eastern Cape Medical Guild. In 2022 its chairwoman, Dr Angelique Coetzee, stated in a radio interview that admission processes at medical schools are highly politicized, and that medical faculties implement race quotas. After she apologized for her statements and resigned as chairwoman,

Dirk Hermann Dirk Johannes Hermann (born 13 January 1972) is a South African labor executive. He serves as chief executive officer of Solidarity, an Afrikaans union that operates in South Africa. He is an author and director. Personal life Hermann is the so ...

Solidarity ''Solidarity'' is an awareness of shared interests, objectives, standards, and sympathies creating a psychological sense of unity of groups or classes. It is based on class collaboration.''Merriam Webster'', http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictio ...

reiterated that race-based admission processes were explicitly included in admission policies, and stated that these were detrimental to white students and health care.

Business focus

Activities focus on the professional and business aspects of medical practice.

Mission

SAMA's mission statement is: "Empowering doctors to bring health to the nation." Values: * Learning and adapting. * Building trust relationships. * Valuing diversity.

References

External links

SAMA
– Official website Congress of South African Trade Unions Healthcare trade unions in South Africa Trade unions in South Africa {{SouthAfrica-trade-union-stub