RUDASA NEWSLETTER
5 March 2003

RuDASA's lobbying has finally been met with some success! The two top stories are that foreign doctors from developed countries can once again work in South Africa, and that the rural allowance will be increased significantly!

Foreign Doctors
While we believe that the only long term solution to staff shortages in our underserved rural areas is appropriate training of South Africans coupled to adequate recruitment and retention strategies, RuDASA has lobbied persistently for the recruitment of foreign doctors for short-term work in South Africa. Finally, new policies in the National Department of Health, adopted in 2002, and a new approach to registration by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) being implemented as of 2003, have made this possible.

In view of the shortage of doctors in rural hospitals, the National Department of Health has adopted a policy of supporting the recruitment of doctors and other healthcare professionals from developed countries for public service in underserved rural areas only.

In line with the above, the Medical and Dental Professional Board (MDPB) of the HPCSA will now consider registering foreign qualified applicants without an examination. This means that foreign doctors who apply to the HPCSA for registration will have their qualifications reviewed by the Examinations and Assessment Committee. If they are from an appropriate country, have a medical degree recognised as being of a good standard (investigated through curriculum reviews conducted by the HPCSA), and have appropriate post-internship experience and training, they may be assessed as being eligible for registration without having to sit the HPCSA examination. If so, they will be offered registration for public service practice only, and for a period of 3 years.

The examination for registering for public service practice will continue to be held twice a year for those doctors who do not meet these criteria, and who thus need additional assessment. The specific procedure to be followed is outlined on our website.

Rural allowance
We have emphasised in several meetings with National Health that incentives are needed to attract doctors to rural areas, and to help them to stay there. The rural allowance will now finally be increased, as mentioned in the Finance Minister's Budget Speech. We expect the Department of Health to release more details soon.

Come to Worcester for the RuDASA Conference in August!
Travel once, attend two conferences! The 7th Annual RuDASA Conference will be held in Worcester from 7-8 August 2003. Then stay for the 12th National Family Practitioner's Conference in Stellenbosch, 8-10 August 2003. On the 9th, the second conference will have a rural day, and presentations on rural themes are invited. Paid-up RuDASA members will in both instances qualify for a reduced registration fee. Please submit abstracts for the Rudasa conference to shawcon@imaginet.co.za, and for the Family Practitioner's conference to abstract@sun.ac.za. The deadline for submissions for both is 30 May 2003. Accommodation for the RuDASA conference will be available in Worcester, ranging from R35 per night (shared rooms, bring own bedding) to B&B's. As Worcester is only 80 km from Stellenbosch, those who prefer to may stay in Worcester for the Family Practitioner's conference as well, as B&B's in Stellenbosch are rather expensive. Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists are also invited to attend the RuDASA conference, and to submit abstracts. CPD points for all will be arranged. For more information about the RuDASA conference, contact Hoffie Conradie at shawcon@imaginet.co.za or 082 8557568.

Come to Spain for the 2003 WONCA WORLD RURAL HEALTH CONFERENCE
This year's WONCA World Rural Health conference will be held in Santiago de Compostela (Spain), September 24-27th. The organisers say that this will be a very interesting venue, with a comprehensive scientific and cultural programme. Information about registration and the abstract submission process is available on their website: http://www.ruralwonca2003.net/

Sites needed for student electives
Many students are keen to do an elective in a rural area, but have difficulties finding a suitable hospital/practice. If you can accommodate elective students, please contact prof Ian Couper (couper@lantic.net) to add your details to the list on our website.

Use your writing skills to contribute articles to the SA Family Practice Journal
The SA Family Practice Journal has a regular "Rural Health Issues" column. The range of articles include interesting stories of patient care, quality improvement issues, how rural doctors are coping out there, etc. Please send your contributions to prof Ian Couper (couper@lantic.net)

Membership fees
It was decided at the AGM in August 2002 that the annual RuDASA membership fee will be R100. Please find membership form. The money is used for teleconferences, travel expenses to meetings (e.g. with the Department of Health), rural research and postage for newsletters.

I hope to see you in Worcester!

Elma de Vries
Chairperson: RuDASA