Program Director
The South African government implemented different strategies to address the shortage of doctors which included importing qualified doctors from Cuba and other countries and training of South African medical students in Cuba.
This has been made possible by the bilateral agreement signed in 1996 between South Africa and the Republic of Cuba to cooperate in the field of health.
The intention of sending students to study medicine in Cuba was to produce a pool of doctors with Primary Health Care expertise which would be utilised in the South African healthcare system later.
Why did we look specifically to Cuba for this help?
It is because Cuba’s health system is renowned for achieving health outcomes at a level of a developed country despite being categorised as a developing country.
Cuba‘s Primary Health Care system is one of the best and most effective PHC systems in the world. Over years Cuba has been able to eliminate child malnutrition, TB, HIV and AIDS, maternal and infant mortality and has also maintained 100% of literacy rate.
Fifteen (15) years ago, thirty (30) young South Africans from Gauteng along with others from the rest of South Africa, were sent to Cuba to study for their Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree.
On completion of their training they were deployed to provide health services to the underserved communities of Gauteng. Currently twenty seven (27) doctors are serving their contractual obligations in Gauteng Health facilities as per bursary policy.
From the year 2001 the Gauteng Department of Health did not participate in the South African Cuban Programme for two reasons;
- to increase the number of bursaries in the field of Medicine locally
- to ensure that transformation is implemented in three medical universities in Gauteng.
In 2011 the Gauteng Department of Health sent ten (10) students to study medicine in Cuba, currently they are doing 2nd year of medical studies.
In 2012 hundred (100) potential students from the disadvantaged communities were sent to Cuba to study medicine; 10 in 80 scholarship and 90 in Expanded Training Programme. The target for 2013 was 120.
In order to ensure that we reached under-privileged and deserving candidates, we used community radio stations such as Jozi, Thetha, Soshanguve, VUT and Kasi FM in June 2013.
Our aim is to ensure that those who benefit from this program are indeed deserving. Therefore, proof of income of the parents/guardians or affidavits from those who are unemployed and on any type of social grants had to be verified. In other words the economic status of each applicant had to be verified.
This year, we as the Gauteng Department of Health are sending one hundred and sixteen they represent all our five districts. 32 are from Ekurhuleni, 32 are from Johannesburg, 15 are from Sedibeng, 23 are from Tshwane, and 14 are from the West Rand.
To the candidates, I want to say that you have been offered a unique opportunity. Thousands of young people would die to be part of this program. You represent the cream of Gauteng. You are also ambassadors of South Africa. You represent the aspirations of our people.
You will mirror South Africa in Cuba. I am confident that the training you will receive will benefit the majority of our people who are not medically insured.
