Imagine juggling the demands of an intense medical academic programme, clinical rotations, and the pressure to perform well, all while worrying about how to afford the next semester’s tuition. Many students who dream of becoming a doctor, struggle financially.
For students like Mahlatse Kgosana from Pretoria, the financial pressure of medical school is just one more stressor on top of an already demanding curriculum.
Financial headache
She expresses her frustration and says she has been seeking financial assistance by posting her fee statement and school banking details on social media and asking for donations with no luck.
“It is genuinely frustrating to have no funding. At this point, I am stressed, and I experience anxiety when considering the possibility of falling behind in my schoolwork. Registrations are closing soon, and I am hopeful that something will come through,” she says.
Mahlatse Kgosana
“Currently, I am selling ice cream and snacks to raise at least R8 600 for registration. Financial constraints greatly affect my career in medicine. I have recently concluded that if a solution does not emerge by the 9th of February, I will consider dropping out and seeking employment to cover the outstanding balance.”
It creates stress and anxiety
“Not being able to register for school due to financial challenges can lead to feelings of frustration and a sense of missed opportunities because I am left behind with schoolwork,” says Babalwa Nqeto, another medical student from the Eastern Cape. “It also created anxiety about the future, like thoughts of what would happen to my dream if I did not get funding.”
Nqeto, who has applied for different bursaries, mentions that the financial challenges of pursuing a medical career bring added stress and delays. However, she says it also fosters resilience, determination, and a heightened awareness of the financial aspects.
Mihle Mngeni from Durban tells Health For Mzansi that this lack of financial support and registration has led her to a sense of demotivation. She touches on the difficulty of staying focused and enthusiastic about her studies while faced with financial barriers, which have created doubt and uncertainty about her future as a medical student.
“Financial challenges have created a lot of stress and anxiety. I feel like I am limited and hindered in my ability to achieve my goals and dreams.
Mihle Mngeni
“I feel disconnected from my peers, who are able to register and pursue their dreams, and disconnected from the academic community.”
“This situation has sometimes triggered some thoughts of giving up or dropping out, as I am asking myself: since I am unable to get a bursary or funding now and I am struggling in my second year of study, how much more in the next 4 remaining years? Does this mean I will struggle financially up until I graduate, but then I remember the reasons I started.”
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The need has never been greater
Medical doctor Thanduxolo Cele from KwaZulu-Natal started the #IMadeADoctor fundraising initiative in 2020 to try to work together to solve one of the biggest challenges that students face.
He says this year, more than 130 students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) are at risk of financial exclusion, and the need for financial assistance has never been greater.
“There is an unequivocal need for more financial assistance for students. The University of KwaZulu-Natal utilises a quota system that greatly informs the admission policy.”
Dr Thanduxolo Cele
“Thus, we have a lot of students from poor upbringings being allowed to pursue one of the most noble professions of our lives. This, therefore, implies that they would need as much financial assistance as possible.”
“If one would steal this opportunity, I would like to extend a strong appeal to society to help in whatever way they can, be it by offering transport money to the kids in the neighbourhood as they depart for university, helping them apply for various bursaries or scholarships, etc.”
He also appeals to businesses – small, medium, and large companies – to continue offering bursaries and registration fees and join in the fundraising machine, #IMadeADoctor.
Cele underlines that it might be difficult to be completely financially prepared as a medical student and says the best thing to do is be a hopeful medical student and prepare psychologically and emotionally.
Advice to struggling students
He shares practical advice on what students with no financial means can do:
- Be prepared for a long journey that is not void of adversities, and have the will to hold on regardless.
- Students should do job shadowing, which would help them be better informed about medicine as a career path they are committing themselves to.
- Students should look into building their network much earlier on in their careers, even before getting into medical school.
- We are living in an era where people get jobs online, via LinkedIn, amongst other social platforms. Perhaps building a professional personal brand and presence much earlier on might attract attention from prospective funders as they get admitted into medical school.
- There are various bursaries and scholarships that students can apply for. There is NSFAS, which carries most of us, and the department of health also tends to offer financial relief.
- Another viable option for medical students is holiday work. An example is applying to be an examination assistant for the department of education. These posts are often released towards the end of February.
- It is very important to keep your ears to the ground and be on the lookout for such opportunities. The SRC is available to advise on these.
- If push comes to shove, students may need to consider taking up a student loan.
- Moreover, education funds and investments are slowly becoming the norm within black communities, which is another form of preparation that parents can exercise on behalf of their children.
According to Cele, the #IMadeADoctor intends to be self-sustainable; there is a lot of work that needs to be done, but they pride themselves on the foundation they have been building.
Donate money and help a student
“Individuals and businesses that donate to our cause get to receive a tax exemption certificate, which can be of assistance as they file for tax returns,” Cele says.
You can click on the link: https://ukzn.devman.co.za/devman/online/genomics/. Go to ‘Please select a project’ and choose ‘#IMadeADoctor.’
“Donations can be once-off or as frequently as you desire. We look forward to everyone being an active participant in the transformation. Let’s make doctors!”
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