Training
Motsoaledi is 'crippling' SA's ability to train enough doctors
May 23rd, 2018 'Is anyone surprised that the programme that trains South Africans as doctors in Cuba has been a catastrophic failure?' asks Jasson Urbach of the Free Market Foundation. Urbach writes: “Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi was quoted in Business...
SA-Cuba medical training programme: Flawed but successful
May 16th, 2018 After more than 20 years, the contentious SA-Cuba medical training programme is being downscaled. Business Day's Tamar Kahn assesses the situation as the largest ever cohort of 720 students prepares to return to embark on local clinical...
'Gender paradox' of more women taking STEM degrees in unequal countries
February 28th, 2018 Countries with greater gender equality see a smaller proportion of women taking degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), a new study has found. Policymakers could use the findings to reconsider initiatives to increase...
Online TB-HIV post-grad diploma from UCT
December 20th, 2017 The Desmond Tutu HIV Centre at the University of Cape Town has developed an exciting and pioneering model for training doctors and nurses in the complicated management of HIV and TB infected patients. In under-served areas where HIV and TB are...
Opportunism and crude populism lie behind claims of racism at Wits — Habib
December 6th, 2017 Opportunism and a 'crude populism ... informed by racial chauvinism' underlies claims that the University of Witwatersrand medical faculty is racist, says Vice-Chancellor Adam Habib. He was responding to a Sunday Times report claiming that of...
2018 internships: Motsoaledi promises all will be placed. Or else
November 29th, 2017 SA’s Health Department says all qualified final-year medical students, including those in ancillary services, will be get internships. However, the SA Medical Association remains 'concerned' about the lack of funded posts and Health Minister Dr...Wits denies owing Gauteng Health billions for training
The University of the Witwatersrand has denied owing any funds to the Gauteng Department of Health. Business Day reports that the university was responding to statements reportedly made by the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH)‚ alleging that...
New SA medical schools, but employment prospects remain uncertain
November 15th, 2017 SA is launching new medical schools but ironically may have no hope of employing all of their graduates, writes Dr Farah Jawitz of the Junior Doctors Association of SA in a Bhekisisa report. One of the first lessons taught in medical school is...Second stage of Africa Oncology Fellowship Programme
The Merck Foundation has started the second stage of their Africa Oncology Fellowship Programme that started in 2016 with the aim to increase the limited number of oncologists in Africa. Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation said: “One of the...Call for '6 months to a year' rural training for SA med students
SA medical students should spend 'at least six months to a year' in rural training programmes, which will help address the critical shortage of rural doctors after graduation, Stellenbosch University’s Professor Marietjie de Villiers said at...UKZN Medical School shutdown over clinic training continues
The shutdown of the University of KwaZulu-Natal Medical School has entered its second week, the student leadership says it will continue to protest until its demands are met. Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine SRC president Nkosinathi Ndebele...Med school admissions scandal - first disciplinary steps
Internal disciplinary proceedings have started against a group of Durban students believed to have bribed their way into studying medicine at the Sefakgo Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU, formerly Medunsa) in Pretoria North. According to...
SA med students failing to recognise childhood cancer's early warning signs
July 12th, 2017 Final-year SA medical students remember only six of at least 20 early warning signs of childhood cancer, found a University of the Witwatersrand study. Medical schools needed to reassess their methods of training, said Dr Jennifer Ann Geel, who led...Unemployed SA medical interns look to the UN and WHO for relief
Unemployed SA intern doctors, who have been left in limbo for six months, have taken their concerns to the UN and the World Health Organisation. A Sunday Tribune reports that one of the doctors has addressed a letter to the secretary-general of...UKZN accused of hiding information in med school places-for-sale scandal
Students have accused University of KwaZulu-Natal of keeping its own council and the Hawks investigators in the dark, regarding a KPMG report into the sale of places at its medical school. The Sunday Tribune reports that the university’s...