With only eight orthopaedic surgeons in the country, patients have to endure lengthy periods to get attention.An orthopaedic surgeon identifies and treats patients whose musculoskeletal problems include arthritis, trauma and congenital deformities. Using both surgical and non-surgical means, the orthopaedic surgeon treats injuries and degenerative problems of the spine and fringe joints, such as hands, feet, knees, shoulders and elbows. According to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Uzziel Ndagijimana, there are only four orthopaedic surgeons at King Faisal Hospital while Kibagabaga Hospital and Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK) have two each.Ndagijimana says these are very few as over 60 percent of the patients admitted at the country’s health facilities are in need of orthopaedic surgery.The matter has been brought to the fore after several patients complained of the lengthy time they take before surgery, an issue officials from the health ministry blamed on a shortage of orthopaedic surgeons. Ndagijimana disclosed that most medical students prefer general medicine to surgery as it is tiresome and unprofitable. "This is a serious challenge we are facing. Hospitals admit many patients in need of surgery as a result of accidents yet we lack enough specialists in the area. "The problem is that the course itself is very expensive and tiresome hence most of the medical students go for other medical studies,” he said. Ndagijimana said that f to become a full orthopaedic surgeon, one had to first become a general practitioner before embarking on the advanced orthopaedic surgery degree that takes a minimum of three years. "I have spent almost two months with this cast yet the surgeon informed me he would take it off in two weeks,” bemoaned a car accident victim whom The New Times found at Kigali Teaching Hospital (CHUK)Another patient, with a backbone problem, said he had waited for three weeks for a surgical operation."I was told I had to undergo a surgical operation on my spine. I have not seen a surgeon since, yet the pain is becoming worse,” the 45 year old mother of three, Janette Uwimana, said.According to a nurse in the accident ward at CHUK, who preferred anonymity, at least 30 patients the hospital admits are in need of orthopaedic surgery.Ndagijimana, however, said the ministry is currently seeking means to address the issue by initiating incentives to attract students to pursue such courses. "We have 100 medical personnel pursuing further studies abroad on relevant issues concerning surgery which includes orthopaedics,” he disclosed.