A new documentary, Behind the Frontline, produced by a Stellenbosch University (SU) alumnus is aimed at starting a conversation surrounding the toxic environments faced by healthcare workers and medical students in South Africa.
PHOTO: Supplied/ Adil Khan
Although dr Adil Khan, who graduated from SU in 2014, is aware that the documentary, is not going to change every issue of bullying and discrimination faced by healthcare workers and students, he hopes that it will inspire other people to take up the mantle, he told MatieMedia.
“I cannot be at all medical campuses around the country, but what I can do is inspire champions like SRC (student representative council) bodies, heads of department and professors to change their approach and see what changes they can implement on an institution-specific level,” he said.
Breaking the abusive cycle
Modern-day medical students are going through the same cycles of abuse that students were experiencing 10 or 20 years ago, claimed Khan.
“[Physicians] go through the system and may become a perpetuator of the same injustices that [they] were subjected to,” he said.
The most favoured physicians and physician-teachers stand out because of how [well] they treat their patients and their protégés, said dr Mariechen Puchert, a participant in the documentary.
“How we treat each other – especially our vulnerable young – is inextricably linked to what will become of our profession,” she said.
Students feel as though they have to tolerate negative attitudes from these esteemed physicians and teachers, according to Jess Davies, a third year MBChB student at SU.
“It was great seeing the personal accounts [of the doctors in the documentary]– that was a very powerful thing,” said Davies
Practical changes
Khan would like to inspire discussions that are followed by action across all medical campuses, he said. “[We need] mandatory training on these issues – proper grievance channels and psychological support that are not just lip service,” said Khan.
SU does have a number of support services offered to students, according to Mr Charl Davids, deputy director for the Centre for Student Counselling and Development (CSCD). Students are encouraged to email unfair@sun.ac.za to report instances of discrimination, harassment, victimisation or abuse.
MatieMedia awaits further response from SU.