NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO. 1287
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 18 SEPTEMBER 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 17)
Mr M H Hoosen (ID) to ask the Minister of Health:
What (a) is the total number of medical doctors who graduated in the past
three years and (b) steps are being taken to increase the intake of
students for the medical profession?
NW1634E
REPLY:
a) Graduates that applied and were placed into medical internship are as
follows:
- in 2007: 1 422
- in 2008: 1 336 and
- in 2009: 1 315
(b) There are regular discussions with the heads of health science
facilities at universities to increase the number of students.
Immediately following my appointment I met the deans of our 8 medical
schools about this issue. Another meeting is scheduled for later this
month between the Department of Health, the Department of Higher
Education and Training and the Vice-Chancellors of Universities and
Deans of medical schools, to take the matter further.
END.