Cuban and South African health authorities meet to review ‘cooperation agreement’

A “cooperation agreement” between Cuba and South Africa has helped bring some relief to this country’s challenge of a shortage of doctors.

Signed in 1996‚ the cooperation agreement identifies areas of exchange between the two countries in terms of professionals‚ research and knowledge.

On Wednesday‚ a delegation from Cuba consisting of Cuban Deputy Health Minister Marcia Cobas and one from South Africa met at Tembisa Hospital to review the "cooperation agreement" and visit the hospital to see how Cuban doctors working at the hospital were coping.

“Gauteng has not traditionally received Cuban doctors. We were prioritising rural areas‚ but in the last year‚ the MEC for health requested doctors (because of shortages)‚” said Deputy Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla.

Phaahla said there were currently about 400 Cuban doctors in South Africa‚ including general practitioners and specialist doctors‚ like psychiatrists and gastrointestinal experts. Most of these are situated in rural parts of the country.

"The cooperation agreement has been one-way in that it has been benefiting South Africa‚" said Phaahla.

Cuban medical schools currently accommodate 3000 South African students. Of those‚ 800 are in their fourth year and will be returning to the home in 2018 to do their final year.

“We are making preparations with South African medical schools to create space for the students for 2018‚” Phaahla said.

Cobas said the visit to South Africa was “brief‚ but productive”.

“The agreement is not only about bringing doctors‚ but about training South African doctors who will be coming back to occupy these positions.”

She said Cuba had a similar agreement with 30 African countries.