'We can't train more doctors'

2007-01-09 11:34

Alet Rademeyer

Johannesburg - Universities turn away large numbers of matriculants with excellent results because there is not enough space for them.

Only about 1 500 medical students could be accommodated each year, in terms of Health Professions Council (HPC) guidelines. Professor Thanyani Mariba, the chairperson of the HPC and dean of the faculty of medicine at the University of Pretoria said it was purely a matter of logistics.

"We don't have the facilities and we don't have the personnel to train more doctors in South Africa," he said on Monday.

A number of 2006 matriculants with eight or more distinctions could not be placed at universities for medical degrees this year, and this led to unhappiness.

Many turned away

Solidarity Youth launched a campaign to combat "the new racism that is evident in university admissions and the awarding of bursaries."

Universities explained on Monday that there were admissions criteria and guidelines in place to assist formerly disadvantaged students, with a view to more equity.

The University of Pretoria was able to place 220 first year medical students a year, with places for disadvantaged students.

Professor Letticia Moja, the dean of Free State University health sciences faculty said with only 140 places available, they had to turn away many excellent candidates again this year.

Of the 140 places, 50% went to whites and 50% to formerly disadvantaged students.

"That is still unfair, if you consider the racial composition of the province."

Moja said all students had to meet minimum entrance requirements. There were more white candidates that qualified, but had to be turned away.

In the disadvantaged group only 45 places could be filled last year.

The remaining places were given to white candidates who had not made the cut for the first 70.

Professor Willem Strum of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) said health sciences received more than 3 000 applications and were only able to place 210 students a year.

Two thirds of the entrants were black and the rest were drawn from other groups.

Professor Ahmed Wadee, assistant dean of health sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) said there was space for 150 first years, and more than 4 000 applications.

Wits drew from two pools of students - with whites and Indians in one, and black and coloured students in the other.

The University of Stellenbosch accommodates about 200 students a year.

"We do not strive for quotas, but try to align the profile of its students with that of the population."

- Beeld