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Fri, Feb 07 2003 Johannesburg.
SABCnews.
The decision by the Limpopo department of health to terminate the services
of seven Cuban doctors with effect from today has left scores of patients
including those in the Intensive Care Unit stranded. The department says the
seven doctors had opted out of the agreement between South Africa and Cuba.
Like many hospitals in the province, Warmbaths, which used to have seven
doctors, will be without the services of two specialists. On Monday, the
situation will be worse as two will be away on an annual leave while one has
left the institution after voluntarily terminating the contract.
Some of them had their citizenship stripped off, allegedly after marrying
South African women. However, the affected doctors claim that their certificates
are still valid until August. The Cuban doctors claim that they are confused and
unsure of the truth about the controversy they find themselves in.
The department of health said it could not disclose the source that led to
the decision to terminate the officers' services. Ishana Hassim, the
spokesperson of the lawyers representing the affected doctors, says they are now
left with no option but to approach the High Court for an interdict on Monday
morning.
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