Chinese doctors among 10,500 graduating in Cuba

More than 10,000 students, including 101 from China, will graduate from Cuba's medical universities this summer, the state-run daily Granma reported Thursday.

Citing a Ministry of Public Health official, the daily said some 10,500 new physicians will receive their degrees from July 19 to July 27, among whom are 5,683 Cubans and 4,843 foreigners from 70 countries and regions.

Dr. Jose Emilio Caballero Gonzalez, head of the ministry's teaching department, said students from nine of 70 nations and regions topped 100, with 855 from Bolivia, 718 from Ecuador, 444 from Mexico, 387 from Argentina, 386 from El Salvador and 101 from China.

Medical science comprises several branches such as medicine, dentistry, nursing, psychology and healthcare technology, which includes 21 different sub-specialties.

The new health specialists are "young (and) characterized by their advanced profession and social projection among the world's poorest people," said Caballero.

More than 124,700 students have graduated from Cuba's medical schools since 1961.

The Caribbean island nations's 40,000-strong medical brigades in 69 countries are its main source of foreign exchange, bringing in some 6 billion U.S. dollars a year.