Organisers of a scholarship scheme aiming to boost the number of young doctors in Bermuda are calling for sponsors to back a fund-raising event.

Bermuda Health Foundation (BHF) says many students have to drop their aspirations for medical careers because they cannot afford the fees involved.

The situation is contributing to a shortage of healthcare staff on the Island, according to the group.

To help tackle the problem, BHF will announce the names of its medical scholarship winners at an annual awards dinner next month. Members are calling for people to come forward to sponsor the event to ensure the scheme has enough funds to continue for years to come.

Premier Ewart Brown, a BHF executive who has practised medicine for decades, told a press conference yesterday: "Many young Bermudians, but for the fact they did not have money, would have gone on to study medicine. We decided we wanted to assist."

BHF chairman Philip Butterfield said: "There's a shortage of healthcare professionals globally and particularly in Bermuda.

"We hope our efforts to assist as many students as possible who have chosen to serve our community through medicine will be supported by both the business community and private citizens."

The BHF's Salute to Service awards dinner takes place at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel on Friday, June 15. Businesses who want to sponsor can pay $10,000 for a table of ten, a full page advert in the souvenir journal and entrance for a four-person team in a charity golf tournament at Belmont Hills on the Saturday. For $5,000, sponsors will get a table for ten at the dinner and a mention in the souvenir journal. Individual tickets are available for $150.

For more information on the golf, contact Vincent Hollinsid on 737-9933. For dinner tickets, contact LaVerne Furbert on 293-8232.

Last year's scholarship winners were Attiya Talbot, Erinn Smith, Rache Somner and Raneika Bean, who were awarded $10,000 each.