19 July 2022 1 Min Read

WATCH: What makes a good doctor? Why school marks aren’t everything

A doctor’s race and the language they speak can play a role in the kind of care they provide — depending on their patient’s race and language

in News & Fox by Dylan Bush & Jesse Copelyn

Picture: 123RF/XIXINXING

Loading ...

Students with better matric marks are more likely to do well in the theoretical part of medical school, but not necessarily the practical side (when they treat patients).

English- and Afrikaans-speaking doctors often struggle to communicate with black patients who don’t speak these languages, which can make it harder for them to provide quality care.

Research from the US shows that black doctors are often more successful at treating black patients than white doctors.

Loading ...

This story was produced by the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism. Sign up for the newsletter.

News & Fox 1 year ago

WATCH: The right people are getting into medical school: more than 90% of medical students pass

The pass rate for medical students is much higher than for other high entry requirement degrees such as engineering and biology. This video explains ...

News & Fox 1 year ago

WATCH: How to get doctors to work outside cities

The unequal distribution of SA’s doctors isn’t limited to the public vs private sector gap. Health workers’ willingness to work in rural areas plays ...

News & Fox 1 year ago

How to pick good doctors: why race, language and where people come from must matter

Research shows that English- and Afrikaans-speaking doctors often struggle to communicate with Black patients