In 2006 Discovery Health showed its commitment to the prosperity of South Africa by investing R100 million in the training and support of those intent on specializing in various forms of medicine that have insufficient practitioners in this country at this point in time. The goal is to produce 300 specialists who will then put their skills to use in South Africa. Before making the decision to invest, Discovery consulted with key individuals and institutions to accurately target areas where specialist skills are lacking, and since 2006, this project has been striving to improve healthcare for all South Africans.
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Discovery to invest R100m to support the training of 300 specialists
The Discovery Foundation is to invest more than R100m in the training of South African medical specialists over the next ten years through four fellowships that will help address the current shortfall in South Africa's medical training needs.
Dr Vincent Maphai, Chair of the Discovery Foundation, says that after close consultation with doctors, academic institutions and other key stakeholders, the awards have been designed to best meet SA's health requirements with the goal of educating 300 new medical specialists in areas of greatest need.
"The Discovery Foundation - an independent organisation established last year as part of Discovery's BEE deal with the sole purpose of investing in medical education in South Africa - has decided to address the fact that the demand for health care resources in South Africa is far greater than the supply of skilled medical professionals available to meet it," says Maphai.
Adrian Gore, CEO of Discovery says: "South Africa does not have sufficient numbers of high level personnel in all areas of health care to provide for the needs of its people. Nor is it currently training enough people to fill the gaps. These awards will assist in providing the training needed to improve the future of health care in our country."
"Medical education is a long and expensive process so 'quick fixes' are extremely limited and not a real solution."
"To compound the problem, the medical teaching corps is not replacing itself. Scarce skills are migrating from rural care centres where the need is greatest, to urban centres; from the public to the private sector, and as part of a global phenomenon, from South Africa to international postings."
According to a study by the HSRC, South Africa only has seven doctors per 10 000 people. The USA and the UK have 24 and 21 respectively.
"And the problem is more acute in rural areas such as the Eastern Cape where there are only three doctors for every 10 000 people," notes Gore. Gore points out that there are eight schools of medicine in South Africa graduating an average of 1 200 doctors a year which is only two thirds of the number South Africa needs. Although the Department of Health is now actively addressing these pressing issues, it is also critical for the private sector to play a significant role, and Discovery is very pleased to be able to make a contribution to this vital task.
"Discovery's vision is to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives. We believe that Discovery has a role to play in building on SA's heritage of medical excellence because of our scale and size and our significant stake in the health care sector," says Gore.
Four categories of awards have been announced:
1. Discovery Academic Fellowship Award
The Discovery Academic Fellowship Award is to address the shortfall in South Africa's medical training in the area of academic medicine. It aims to allow medical graduates who have completed their specialist training and who show great potential as well as a strong interest in pursuing a careers in academic medicine in South Africa, the opportunity to complete a full time Masters Dissertation for six months and then allow another six months of study or research at a chosen institution either locally or internationally, which will further enhance their training in their chosen field.
The Discovery Foundation will grant up to 64 Discovery Academic Fellowship awards worth R750 000 each, with a total value of approximately R48 million.
2. Discovery Rural Fellowship Award
The purpose of the Discovery Rural Fellowship Award is to address a current shortfall in the number of suitably skilled doctors working in rural areas. It aims to reward outstanding students who are in their final year of training, and who are committed to pursuing a career in rural medicine in South Africa. These Fellowships will fund specialisation in family medicine with a strong rural emphasis, and aim to recruit and retain outstanding doctors committed to a career in rural medicine and in addition, raise the profile of rural medicine.
The Discovery Rural Fellowship Awards will be worth up to R250 000 each. A total of up to 96 awards will be made to a total value of up to R24 million.
3. Discovery Specialist Award
This is an award focused on encouraging outstanding final year medical graduates to enter specialist training.
The Discovery Foundation will award a total of up to 160 Discovery Specialist Awards to the value of R250 000 each with a total value of approximately R40 million.
4. Discovery Excellence Award
This is an award to an organisation or institution that demonstrates excellence in terms of service delivery and innovation to the benefit of South African health care. This includes support of doctors, academic institutions, doctors in training, research into the presentation of specifically South African or South Africa diseases, the upgrading of medical services in these areas and the replication of a tried and tested model aimed at enhancing South African healthcare.
One Discovery Excellence Award will be made of up to R1 million annually.
