HONIARA (Pacnews) — An acute shortage of doctors including specialists nationwide has forced Solomon Islands to recruit doctors from Cuba.
Foreign Minister Patterson Oti and his Cuban counterpart will sign a technical cooperation framework here in the capital, Havana under which Solomon Islands will recruit Cuban doctors.
Oti said the cabinet approved the framework last week.
Under the deal, Cuba will provide 40 medical doctors. While some will work at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara, others will be sent to provincial and rural hospitals.
The minister said the Ministry of Health and Medical Services has the details on the arrangements including how long the doctors will spend in Solomon Islands.
He said the doctors, including surgeons, gynecologists and other specialists are expected to start arriving in Solomon Islands later this year.
“These are qualified doctors from all sections of the medical field,” he said.