BMJ  2007;334:1236 (16 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.39241.432674.3A

Letters

Helping the world's poor

Let's help doctors work in the third world

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Surely it is not beyond the wit of our profession to devise a scheme that will make it easier for UK health professionals to work overseas either as missionaries, volunteers with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), or in other "bona fide" set-ups. Some of the issues Mabey raises also affect UK doctors wanting to take career breaks in the United Kingdom.1

We need to devise a way that UK doctors working overseas can be part of some form of revalidation. We have an oversupply of doctors at the moment trying to get into the Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) process. Allowing some to opt out to work overseas should be encouraged by recognising the experience they will have gained and facilitating their re-entry into the system.

At the moment UK doctors working overseas cost the UK government nothing. The government could recognise this by helping to pay off debts from student loans and . . . [Full text of this article]

Andrew L Perkins, former medical missionary

Westoning, Bedfordshire MK45 5JD

alperkins@doctors.org.uk


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Relevant Article

Improving health for the world's poor
David Mabey
BMJ 2007 334: 1126. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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