The Eastern Cape Department of Health will employ more than 80 healthcare workers, hopefully by the beginning of next month.
Recruitment processes are at an advanced stage for the search of 86 frontline workers. These are 20 professional nurses, 20 enrollment nurses and 20 assistant nurses.
Should recruitment processes go smoothly with no glitches, the healthcare workers are expected to report for duty on July 1.
They will be placed on a needs basis with clinics and hospitals in desperate need of more workers prioritised.
MEC Nomakhosazana Meth welcomed the move.

"The employment of the 66 nurses comes as COVID-19 active cases continue to rise in the province so having more of our dedicated frontline workers on the frontlines is a good move that will save many lives.
"Ideally we would love to ensure every single healthcare workers is employed which would mean nurses and doctors would not have to work overtime, but the fact of the matter is that we simply don't have the budget.
"Having more workers at our facility is a top priority, not only because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but because that would ensure we continue delivering effective and efficient services to millions of our people."
The MEC said processes of employing more healthcare workers were ongoing.
"Remember we have the problem of the huge salary bill whereby most of our budget is going towards salaries, instead of our core business.
"But key funded positions have to be filled," she said.
Measures of addressing medico-legal claims, which have cost the Department billions of rands over the years, sometimes in bogus claims, are also ongoing.
These include replacing the old and abused manual filing system with an e-filing system which will eliminate the stealing of patients' files by some but few unethical workers who are in cahoots with unscrupulous lawyers who have targeted the Department.
The MEC also called on people to continue adhering to regulations by wearing masks when in public, practising social distancing and regularly washing hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
"COVID-19 cases continue to go up on a daily basis which points to us possibly entering the third wave.
"We urge people to do their part so that we will flatten the curve and save lives because we have lost too many people already. One death is one too many," she said.
For enquiries, contact Eastern Cape Department of Health Spokesperson, Sizwe Kupelo on 083 378 0196.
Ends...