Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani medical students in Cuba have shown remarkable performance competing with students of over 120 different countries.
The results for the academic year 2010-11 show that the cumulative result of Pakistani students was 99.67 percent followed by Ecuador 98.28 percent, Bolivia 97.69 percent, China 97.28 percent and Nicaragua 96.77 percent, said a statement issued on Wednesday.
As many as 900 Pakistani students are pursuing medical studies funded by the government of Cuba. The scholarship of Pakistani students included tuition fee, books, free laundry, food, lodging, health insurance and other miscellaneous expenditures. In addition, Pakistan is providing a monthly stipend of 50 euros per month to all the students and return air ticket, the statement reads.
The first batch of 310 students has completed four years of medical study along with a comprehensive course in Spanish and their fifth year will start by the end of February. The 2nd batch of 602 students has completed three years of medical study along with a comprehensive course in Spanish and their fourth year will also start by the end of February.
The students would return to Pakistan in 2013 and 2014, after successful completion of their studies in Cuba. It is expected that these students would be able to make a substantial contribution to improve the health sector of Pakistan and would also further strengthen the bilateral friendly relations between the countries, the statement said.
The achievements of Cubans in health indicators are a role model for other nations of the world. At present, Pakistan has one of the lowest health indicators in areas such as infant mortality, vaccination, maternal health, etc, it concluded.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
