Cape Town — Almost half the doctor and specialist posts in Free State hospitals are empty, according to a written reply to questions posed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Parliament .

The province is also battling to find nurses, dentists and physiotherapists, which is hampering essential services.

"It's absolutely shocking. You can't run a proper hospital system (like) this," said DA health spokesman Mike Waters.

The health ministry's response on health professionals employed by the Free State health department shows that only 417 of the 785 doctor and registrar posts are filled; 162 of the 313 specialist posts ; 2356 of the 3822 nurses posts ; and 54 of the 115 physiotherapists posts .

Waters said the DA suspected the high vacancy rate was due to poor budgeting . He said he had asked Parliament's health committee to call the provincial and national health and treasury departments to account .