Question NW2989 to the Minister of Health
19 November 2018 - NW2989
Wilson, Ms ER to ask the Minister of Health
Whether the Government signed a new agreement or memorandum of understanding with the department of health of the Republic of Cuba for the 2018-19 financial year; if so, (a) what number of students will attend Cuban universities for medical training, (b) what number of students will be sent from each province, (c) what number of Cuban doctors will be sent to South Africa to assist in the public health sector and (d) what number of Cuban doctors will be dispatched to each province?
Reply:
South Africa has not yet signed the Agreement with Cuba. The Cooperation Agreement between Cuba and South Africa is not an annual Agreement but a fixed term International Agreement. The Parties are currently in the process of renewing the previous Agreement.
(a) The number of students currently attending the Cuban Medical Universities is 1 912;
(b) Each Province sends the number of students according to its means, i.e according to what it can afford out of the total number of students who qualify
(c) The number of Cuban doctors to be sent to South Africa to assist in the public health sector depends on the needs of the province, based on the total availability of financial resources;
(d) As indicated in (c) above.