Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am informed by the Medical Council of Mauritius that the number of registered Specialists in the following specialities is as follows – • vascular surgeons: 2 • cardiovascular surgeons: 5 • interventional cardiologists: 1 In addition, 74 cardiologists and 10 cardiothoracic surgeons are also registered with the Medical Council. Many cardiologists are also trained and are performing as interventional cardiologists. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, regarding part (a) of the question, I am further informed that there are two funded posts at my Ministry’s establishment for vascular surgeons. Unfortunately, one passed away and the second one resigned from service. Currently, there is no vascular surgeon working in the public hospitals. I wish to inform the House that an advertisement for the post of vascular surgeon was launched at the level of Public Service Commission on 24 April 2026 with the closing date on 14 May 2026. I am informed that no candidate has applied for the post. Regarding the field of cardiology, 19 cardiologists are working in public health institutions, and there is only one vacancy. As such, an advertisement was launched on 10 March 2026 by the Public Service Commission with the closing date on 30 March 2026. To date, the vacancy has not yet been filled. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to cardiovascular surgeons, there are no cardiovascular surgeons employed by the Ministry. However, at the level of Cardiac Centre, Pamplemousses, there are four cardiac surgeons who are currently practicing at the centre. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to part (b) of the question, my Ministry, with the assistance of the World Health Organisation Country Office, has started an assessment to evaluate the shortages in various medical specialities, including vascular surgeries and cardiovascular surgeries. A report with its recommendation is expected shortly. As a caring government, my Ministry is leaving no stone unturned. In the field of high- tech medicine, keeping in mind the welfare and well-being of the patients, every avenue is being explored, including visits of specialised surgical experts from foreign countries, including India, United Kingdom, South Africa, France, Australia, and United States of America, to carry out complex surgical interventions in public hospitals. Currently, there is a team comprising a cardiac surgeon from Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad from India, which is carrying out delicate cardiac interventions at SAJ Hospital. My Ministry is also expecting a second team by next week. In addition, my Ministry regularly receives the visit of Dr. Rittoo, an eminent consultant in vascular surgery from the United Kingdom. Dr. Rittoo, who is a Mauritian born, has carried out more than 100 cases on a voluntary basis. Moreover, 11 complex onco surgeries have been carried out at the National Cancer Centre, with over 90% success rate by two doctors from Chennai, India. I wish to inform the House that my Ministry has also invited eminent doctors from India to clear approximately 2,200 cataract cases, which will be done in around two months’ time. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the key reasons for these frequent visits are that the visiting teams can provide expertise in different areas, and this creates an opportunity for our local doctors, nurses and technicians to work alongside these experienced specialists for hands-on training, exposure to new techniques and continuing medical education. Foreign surgical missions often perform many surgeries within a short period, thus help in reducing the waiting time for patients to be operated. Visiting teams do bring specialised equipment and expertise in new minimally invasive or highly complex procedures that may not yet be widely available within our setup. Bringing foreign specialists to operate within our hospitals do help in the reduction of associated costs in connection with sending patients abroad for overseas treatment. Patients have access to specialised high-tech medicine locally, and there is no need to travel abroad for such interventions. I can reassure the House that sustainable progress will be achieved by a holistic response, including capacity building, building bilateral and multilateral collaboration with foreign countries. I am confident that we can truly ensure life-saving care for patients, and no patient is left behind. My Ministry is working with the Ministry of Finance to put in place a special scheme to enable the recruitment of foreign doctors in specific fields where there is lack of qualified personnel. It is worth noting that dozens of doctors from India have been helping our country on a purely voluntary basis in different fields such as oncosurgery, paediatric oncology, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, renal and multi-organ transplant among others. I wish to inform the House that during my recent visit to Geneva, in the context of the 79th World Health Assembly, I had the opportunity to have a working session with Mr J.P. Nadda, the Health Minister of India, who agreed to consider providing assistance in specialised fields.

Hon. Apollon!

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. Can I ask the Minister if his Ministry has received any complaint from patients as their treatment is being delayed for lack of specialists?

I have already mentioned that we hardly have specialists left in specific fields. That is the reason why we are turning towards our donor country to help us. They have to be a bit patient. As I have just mentioned, we are leaving no stone unturned to help those patients.

Hon. Juman!

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. Hon. Minister, since you said we have no vascular surgeons in our public hospitals, can you consider to refer vascular patients to private clinics?

Even in private clinics, if I am not mistaken, there is one vascular surgeon who is in Darné Private Hospital. So, when we do get such cases, well I have no hesitation to refer them. But actually, we are having one foreign doctor who is working with us and actually, he is operating. But if the need is felt, I don't have any hesitation in referring them to the private clinic.

The hon. First Member for Savanne and Black River! FISH LANDING STATIONS - WEST & SOUTH COASTS