SA medical students studying abroad to require bridging course
Medical students returning from studying abroad will have to jump one more hurdle before they can practise in South Africa.
The Health Department says a new policy requires these students to do a course in South Africa which will cover areas such as as HIV/AIDS and TB.
The department's Gavin Steel says students studying medicine overseas in countries such as China, Russia, Mauritius and Bulgaria - will have to declare their studies with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
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"Many of these students are studying what we call a general medical degree. In those countries, they quite often proceed directly from their degree into specialisation. The skills set that they develop do not necessarily equip them to do an internship in South Africa.
"So we are wanting the students to do a bridging course to make sure that they have all the skills that they need in order not to harm our patients," Steel said.