Issued by Ministry of Health
7 July 2006
The Department of Health welcomed the 2nd group of South Africans medical doctors who have recently completed their studies in Cuba in graduation ceremony held at Medunsa today.
These 22 doctors are beneficiaries of the programme by the Department of Health in South Africa which, recruits students with potential from the historically disadvantaged communities to study medicine in Cuba.
A total of 430 medical students have been enrolled in the programme.
The 22 newly qualified doctors were recruited from KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Free State, Limpopo, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and North West, as part of an agreement signed between South Africa and Cuba in 1995. The agreement also includes recruitment of Cuban doctors to work in the underserved areas in South Africa.
The new doctors completed their five-year medical studies in Cuba and have served their internship programme in South Africa, to ensure they have necessary competencies to meet the local health care needs.
Like all other health professionals in South Africa, they are now going to serve 1 year of community service.
As part of the bursary agreement with the Department of Health for studying in Cuba, these doctors will work in under-served are and remain in the public service for a minimum of five years.
After being selected, the students study for five years in Cuba and write the National Final Cuban Examinations. They then return to South Africa on the 6th year, to do their final clinical year and practical studies (Internship) in various South African Health Science Faculties. They then sit for a South African examination with the rest of the South African medical students to qualify as doctors.
Health Minister, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said the Department of Health was very pleased to welcome these new doctors into the public health sector.
"Many of these students would not have been doctors today because of the challenges of admission requirements and costs that many students from poor communities had to grapple with. Government took a decision to open this opportunity because we realised that there were many young people with great potential to serve the health sector. We are glad that today we are reaping the fruits of this investment," said Minister Tshabalala-Msimang.
Contact
Sibani Mngadi
0827720161
or
Charity Bhengu
084 521 2035
NOTE: A graduation ceremony of 22 Cuban-trained doctors will be held tonight at 19H00 at Sports Centre, Medunsa Campus (near George Mkhari Hospital). For directions call: Lindi 082 885 0050.