Pretoria - South Africa has many hospitals that would be without a doctor today if Cuba had not been present, Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, stated, after acknowledging the impact of the cooperation program with the Caribbean nation.

More than 400 health professionals, among about 600 collaborators, are currently working here.

The minister referred to the lack of doctors in his country and said that more than 3,000 young South Africans are being trained in the island as future doctors.

They will play a key role in improving the primary care system, he said.

This is part of the government's plans to face up the shortage in health care, Motsoaledi stressed during a meeting with the press.

He also insisted that Cuba is enjoying a high prestige in medical training and emphasized the high quality of its health system.

2016 marked two decades of the official start of cooperation between Cuba and South Africa, which began with the arrival in February 1996 of the first group of doctors from the island to this African land.

Since then, collaboration has been expanded and extended beyond the health sector.