Chair, having identified health as one of its key priority areas, the ANC continues to work towards reducing inequalities in our health system, and one such way would be by boosting our human resources. We therefore believe that the recent step taken by the University of the Witwatersrand to increase its intake of medical students to address the shortage of human resources in the public health sector is a welcome step.
A shortage of human resources in a key area of delivery, such as health, hampers the effectiveness of the country's public health system. We support the challenge posed by the Health Minister, Mr Aaron Motsoaledi, to the country's faculties of health science to follow the University of Witwatersrand's lead and take on 40 extra students in 2012. Such a move will address the shortage of doctors in the country in the long term.
Equally welcome is Wits University's commitment to recruiting rural students by providing them with support and training. Thus far it has become possible for students to go back to the rural areas where there are huge health care shortages and ensure the provision of proper health care in those areas.
It is important that we produce health care workers who are committed to social engagement and social responsibility and who want to serve their communities. I thank you. [Applause.]