Doctors deployed to rural hospitals

At least 63 intern doctors were yesterday assigned to various district hospitals where they’re expected to work for one year, under supervision.The Minister of Health, Dr Agnes Binagwaho, noted that the annual programme started three years ago.She explained that the medics will fill the gaps left by 86 general practitioners who have been taken to different teaching hospitals for specialised training.“These doctors that we have deployed are academically competent although they’ll be working under supervision for one year. After one year of practicing, they’ll be awarded with diplomas and approved by the medical council,” she said.Binagwaho added that more doctors will be recruited next week. The minister also noted that some of the interns will be practicing in specialised areas such as pediatrics and gynecology.She said through the Human Resources for Health Programme, the country will get more 500 medical specialists in the next few years.Meanwhile, Binagwaho refuted claims that some doctors are paid more than others depending on the location of the health facility where they operate.She said all doctors are given the same salary and it’s only their Performance Based Financing (PBF) that differs.Binagwaho explained doctors, who work in remote areas where conditions may not be as favorable as those in urban areas, receive higher PBF.These medics, she said, work in difficult conditions, which is why they are given more PBF than those in rural areas. The ratio of doctor to patient in Rwanda remains low, at one to 16,000.Dr Jean Die Dieu Ngirabega, the Director of Clinical Services in the Rwanda Biomedical Centre said the challenge of shortage of doctors is being addressed and plans are underway for another medical school to open up soon.Currently, there are 633 doctors, 7,286 nurses and at least 130 medical specialists in the country.

National

Doctors deployed to rural hospitals