§ 100. Dr. Segalasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the present number of doctors in the Government Medical Service of Sierra Leone; how far this number is below the existing establishment; how many additional doctors it is proposed to recruit for Sierra Leone during 1947; and what steps will be taken to ensure the recruitment of medical men to this service after 1948.
Mr. Creech JonesThe present number of doctors is 29. The existing establishment is 40. It is hoped that it will he possible during 1947 to fill all II vacancies together with two more which will arise in the course of the year; but at the present time there is a severe shortage of qualified doctors, particularly of African doctors, and considerable difficulty has been experienced in meeting the requirements of both Sierra Leone and other Territories. It is too early to estimate the prospects of improved European recruitment after 1948, but the number of African medical graduates available should be larger. The training of African staff for medical duties is an integral part of the Sierra Leone Government's development programme, and 18 medical students from Sierra Leone are under training in this country at present.