LETTERS * CORRESPONDANCE
We will consider for publication only letters submitted in duplicate, printed in letterquality type without proportional spacing and not exceeding 450 words. All the authors must sign a covering letter transferring copyright. Letters must not duplicate material being submitted elsewhere or already published. We routinely correspond only with authors of accepted letters. Rejected letters are destroyed. Accepted letters are subject to editing and abridgement.
Seules peuvent etre retenues pour publications les lettres recues en double dont la longueur n'excede pas 450 mots. Elles doivent etre mecanographiees en qualite "correspondance" sans espacement proportionnel. Tous les auteurs doivent signer une lettre d'accompagnement portant cession du copyright. Les lettres ne doivent rien contenir qui ait ete presente ailleurs pour publication ou deja paru. En principe, la redaction correspond uniquement avec les auteurs des lettres retenues pour publication. Les lettres refusees sont detruites. Les lettres retenues peuvent etre abregees ou faire l'objet de modiJcations d'ordre redactionnel.
Medicine in South Africa I compliment Dr. Frank Timmermans on his astute analysis of the South African medical system (Can Med Assoc J 1990; 142: 477-478). As a nonwhite physician trained in South Africa I can speak to the barbaric practices perpetrated by the medical profession. The Medical Association of South Africa (MASA) is an organization composed mainly of white physicians who have done little to alter the plight of the millions of blacks restricted to barren homelands with contaminated water and inadequate sanitation. This organization has little support from the nonwhite -
For prescribing information see page 1333
physicians of South Africa, who recognize it as an elite organization whose main interest is to obtain international recognition in an attempt to further its members' research and academic needs. "Lobbying against the government for change", a catchphrase I've heard all too often, has a meaningless ring when there are no attempts to put into practice equal and just medical services for all. MASA members enjoy a privileged lifestyle, and many are totally out of touch with or wish to ignore the injustices, medical and otherwise, committed by the apartheid regime. I had white university professors (members of MASA) who had never visited a black township and taught us tertiary care medicine and research that had little applicability to the medical needs of the society at large. Primary care prevention was taught with less enthusiasm. I can assure you that you will not find many members of MASA working voluntarily or otherwise in black homelands or campaigning for basic human needs such as fresh water, decent housing and good education. Let us not forget the role South African white physicians and members of MASA have played in the atrocities performed on black activists in South African prisons. The case of Steve Biko is a poignant example of flagrant medical malpractices and untruths perpetrated by physicians in the name of apartheid. Medical care of black prisoners is appalling, and MASA has done nothing to change this. Our minister of external affairs, Joe Clark, has commended the South African government on
its recent policy amendments but has adopted a rational approach of wait and see before lifting sanctions against South Africa. Perhaps as a medical organization we should adopt a similar stance. MASA claims that it protests vociferously against government policy that perpetuates an unjust and inhumane medical system. Why don't we wait and see just how much of this rhetoric it puts into practice before we even consider an affiliation? Soobramani Naidoo, MB, ChB 2048 Sixth Line Oakville, Ont.
As a native and medical graduate of South Africa I thank CMAJ for publishing Dr. Timmermans' wonderful expose of the South African health care system and of MASA's ignominious role in it. It takes a perceptive, nonracist, nonelitist person to see the situation the way Timmermans did. His article is a boost to the cause of justice and health for blacks in South Africa and to those of us who have worked long and hard to try to bring the reality of the health situation there to the attention of international health organizations and associations. One would think that the new "climate of negotiation" that has been heralded in by President F.W. deKlerk is going to bring about change, but there is still a long row to hoe for blacks and progressive whites in the matter of
apartheid. Since extensive authoritative sources on the problem do not appear to be well publicized or well known in medical circles, I have listed a few'-6 for CMAJ readers so that an informed deciCAN MED ASSOC J 1990: 142 (I 1)
1171
We will consider for publication only letters submitted in duplicate, printed in letterquality type without proportional spacing and not exceeding 450 words. All the authors must sign a covering letter transferring copyright. Letters must not duplicate material being submitted elsewhere or already published. We routinely correspond only with authors of accepted letters. Rejected letters are destroyed. Accepted letters are subject to editing and abridgement.
Seules peuvent etre retenues pour publications les lettres recues en double dont la longueur n'excede pas 450 mots. Elles doivent etre mecanographiees en qualite "correspondance" sans espacement proportionnel. Tous les auteurs doivent signer une lettre d'accompagnement portant cession du copyright. Les lettres ne doivent rien contenir qui ait ete presente ailleurs pour publication ou deja paru. En principe, la redaction correspond uniquement avec les auteurs des lettres retenues pour publication. Les lettres refusees sont detruites. Les lettres retenues peuvent etre abregees ou faire l'objet de modiJcations d'ordre redactionnel.
Medicine in South Africa I compliment Dr. Frank Timmermans on his astute analysis of the South African medical system (Can Med Assoc J 1990; 142: 477-478). As a nonwhite physician trained in South Africa I can speak to the barbaric practices perpetrated by the medical profession. The Medical Association of South Africa (MASA) is an organization composed mainly of white physicians who have done little to alter the plight of the millions of blacks restricted to barren homelands with contaminated water and inadequate sanitation. This organization has little support from the nonwhite -
For prescribing information see page 1333
physicians of South Africa, who recognize it as an elite organization whose main interest is to obtain international recognition in an attempt to further its members' research and academic needs. "Lobbying against the government for change", a catchphrase I've heard all too often, has a meaningless ring when there are no attempts to put into practice equal and just medical services for all. MASA members enjoy a privileged lifestyle, and many are totally out of touch with or wish to ignore the injustices, medical and otherwise, committed by the apartheid regime. I had white university professors (members of MASA) who had never visited a black township and taught us tertiary care medicine and research that had little applicability to the medical needs of the society at large. Primary care prevention was taught with less enthusiasm. I can assure you that you will not find many members of MASA working voluntarily or otherwise in black homelands or campaigning for basic human needs such as fresh water, decent housing and good education. Let us not forget the role South African white physicians and members of MASA have played in the atrocities performed on black activists in South African prisons. The case of Steve Biko is a poignant example of flagrant medical malpractices and untruths perpetrated by physicians in the name of apartheid. Medical care of black prisoners is appalling, and MASA has done nothing to change this. Our minister of external affairs, Joe Clark, has commended the South African government on
its recent policy amendments but has adopted a rational approach of wait and see before lifting sanctions against South Africa. Perhaps as a medical organization we should adopt a similar stance. MASA claims that it protests vociferously against government policy that perpetuates an unjust and inhumane medical system. Why don't we wait and see just how much of this rhetoric it puts into practice before we even consider an affiliation? Soobramani Naidoo, MB, ChB 2048 Sixth Line Oakville, Ont.
As a native and medical graduate of South Africa I thank CMAJ for publishing Dr. Timmermans' wonderful expose of the South African health care system and of MASA's ignominious role in it. It takes a perceptive, nonracist, nonelitist person to see the situation the way Timmermans did. His article is a boost to the cause of justice and health for blacks in South Africa and to those of us who have worked long and hard to try to bring the reality of the health situation there to the attention of international health organizations and associations. One would think that the new "climate of negotiation" that has been heralded in by President F.W. deKlerk is going to bring about change, but there is still a long row to hoe for blacks and progressive whites in the matter of
apartheid. Since extensive authoritative sources on the problem do not appear to be well publicized or well known in medical circles, I have listed a few'-6 for CMAJ readers so that an informed deciCAN MED ASSOC J 1990: 142 (I 1)
1171
