SEMINAR INTERNATIONAL LEARNING EXCHANGE PROGRAMME - RSA/ CUBA MEDICAL TRAINING PROGRAMME - MILE
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SEMINAR
INTERNATIONAL LEARNING EXCHANGE
PROGRAMME
RSA/ CUBA MEDICAL TRAINING PROGRAMME
1
OUTLINE
1. Background on international learning exchange programme
2. Key programmes/focus areas, targets and costs
3. Partnerships and key stakeholders
4. Successes and challenges
5. Awareness and outreach programmes
6. Key lessons learnt and impact of the programme on service delivery
7. Outlook: 2017-2020 Plans, Actions and Way-forward
2
1. BACKGROUND ON INTERNATIONAL LEARNING EXCHANGE PROGRAMME
• This programme was conceived in the mid-1990`s as an attempt to address the
serious challenges in the production of medical doctors in South Africa.
• The late Presidents of South Africa and Cuba, former President Nelson Mandela
and former President Fidel Castro, respectively concluded a co-operative
agreement to realize the concept.
• The collaboration in the health field between South Africa and Cuba enabled
South Africa to recruit doctors from Cuba whilst also sending young aspirant
doctors/students from poor communities for Medical Training in Cuban
universities for 6 years.
• KZN is amongst the 08 Provinces participating in the country.
• Participating Province covers all the costs , management and administration of the
Programme
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2. KEY PROGRAMMES/FOCUS AREAS, TARGETS
Key Programmes/Focus Areas Targets
• South Africa(KZN Health) started • Target –Must be less than 25
sending students to Cuba in 1998 years of age before 31 December
• Sending young aspirant of the year of recruitment.
doctors/students from poor
communities for medical training in
• Youth from KZN poor household
Cuban universities. and, Expanded Programme from
• Recruit doctors from Cuba- Our 2012, affording parents who
Province has benefited from the could not get space locally
Cuban programme with 33 doctors. formed part of the programme
• Cuban doctors started arriving in the (ETP) by paying for tuition while
province from 1996, 1997, 1998 and department pay for the rest of
2000 and are still in service costs.
4
COSTS
The Department covers the ff costs : The Department covers the ff costs :
Before departure to Cuba: When student are in Cuba:
Visas • Tuition
Translation of documents to • Accommodation
Spanish
Flight Tickets • Meals
Tracksuits, golf shirts, lab coats, • Stipend
stationery ( backpack, • Stationery
stethoscopes , BP Machine • Medical Insurance
Orientation 3 days • Flights (to commence studies,
accommodation at Hotel prior to
Departure every 2years vacation ,
bereavements, illness, pregnant
Transporting of students from
home to Orientation and Airport students, suspension and any
other where reason for student
to return prematurely)
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3. PARTNERSHIPS AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS
• Cuban Government as the collaborating partner in the public medical schools
• Department of International Relations and Cooperation(DIRCO) for diplomatic
relations and protocol
• National Department of Health (NDoH) as the coordinating office and signatory
to the agreement and policy matters
• Cuban Embassy in Pretoria for translation and legalisation and VISA issuance
• SA Embassy in Cuba for the reception of officials and students
• Department of Home Affairs for Passports issuance
• Department of Basic Education for verification by Umalusi
• South African Police Services (SAPS) for police clearance
• Hospitals/ NHLS for medical testing and psychological assessment of students
• Travel Agency for flight and accommodation bookings
6
CHALLENGES
• Rand / Dollar exchange Rate fluctuation affects all costs including flights
• Failure to adapt to Cuba due to challenges such as culture, socio economic,
language ,climatic conditions such as high humidity levels, short winter season,
etc.
• Pregnancy / impregnating and High levels of alcohol consumption
• International travelling affects some students during travel
• Loss of travel documents
• 6 hours time difference affects communication
• Political system in terms of the RSA Bill of Rights, patriotism, etc.
• Drop outs due to certain ailments not adequately curable in Cuba such as TB.
NB: These challenges are addressed through national coordinators meetings,
student engagement during holidays or delegation visits to CUBA.
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4. SUCCESSES
• There are 117 doctors from KZN, out of 590 doctors Nationally , who have qualified since
1998 who have been trained since the inception of the programme.
• This translates to 20% of the National consortium of doctors trained in Cuba who have
since qualified
• 13 students – graduated on the 14th July 2017.
• About 262 students are returning from Cuba in July 2018 to do final year in SA.
• Currently there are 728 KZN students in Cuba and it’s the biggest number by the
province.
• 93 of these doctors are still employed in public health facilities in the Province
• All students funded by the Department entered into Contractual Agreement with the
Department
• Improvement on the Primary Health Care approach to service delivery which is in line
with PHC reengineering AND Universal Health Coverage.
• Cuba trained doctors are being appointed as CEO’s of the CHC’s.
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PICTURES
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5. AWARENESS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMMES
• Career Exhibitions
• Media
• Roadshows especially in 2012 due
to expansion Programme
• School visits information sharing
106. KEY LESSONS LEARNT AND IMPACT OF THE PROGRAMME ON SERVICE
DELIVERY
Key lessons learnt Impact of the programme on service delivery
• Tedious exercise recruiting and managing large • Cuba Programme has improved the Socio-
groups of students – need careful and timeous economic conditions of households.
planning • The Department has prioritized appointment of
• Willingness to work outside normal hours Cuban Trained doctors to head CHCs.
• Need to think holistically and be innovative as • This decision is yielding good results as the
challenges are unique in each incident CHC’s are well positioned for the community
• Expectations to play different roles in dealing with integration whereby doctors are also playing a
students as some report their personal problems critical role in understanding community
or challenges that have nothing to do with dynamics/Social profile and other development
academics. strategies such as Operation Sukuma Sakhe
• Learnt to compromise to find common ground • Doctors are able to conduct home visits and visit
when dealing with stakeholders community centres such as schools where the
• Be adapting and put oneself in other persons primary health care services are rendered.
shoes • Training of doctors using the Primary Health
• Some of the students backgrounds forces you to Care model is ideal for the Province since it is
play counselling role. community centred and promote access to
health care services at a local level.
• Without the political will and support,
international programme is even more difficult – • Cuba trained doctors are easily retained in rural
regular reports are discussed at Cabinet meetings hospitals
117. Outlook: 2017-2020 Plans, Actions and Way-forward
(I) Short Term (II) Medium Term
• 2015 Department reduced intake • Review once all big groups (i.e. 2012,
for Cuba 2013 and 2014) have returned to SA
• Expansion of teaching platform in
• 2016 no students were sent
partnership with UKZN
• 2017 not students will be sent
(III) Long –Term
• Reduce intake of students trained
abroad
• Bringing Cuba model of training to
KZN
12CONCLUSSION
We value team work and appreciate support we
received from Senior Management and Political
Leadership.
Gracias!
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