Medical students face uncertain future
BMJ 1998; 317 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.317.7170.1408 (Published 21 November 1998) Cite this as: BMJ 1998;317:1408All rapid responses
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The current economic problems in Malaysia has affected many sectors,
the latest being private sponsored medical education. The case of the
Asean Sheffield Medical is highlighted and is affecting both students and
lecturers who certainly had high expectations.
Malaysia currently has five government medical faculties and one
private medical university. These colleges will produce close to 800 new
doctors a year from the year 2000 onwards. Plans are afoot to set up one
or two more private colleges. Those who fail to obtain a seat in a local
university will try to obtain places abroad. Getting a place in these
faculties (whether locally or overseas) is a great achievement for these
students. If we then sum up these students we are looking as probably 1
200 to 1 400 graduates a year.
When I was a lecturer in a local medical school, I have voiced my
opinion to the graduating classes that in the future the "economic" future
of the medical profession may not be too rosy taking these numbers into
consideration. I fear that not all these graduates will find a job and be
able to practice their profession. A large number of these will be
students who had achieved high academic achievement in their equivalent
"O" or "A" level examination. Therefore I would question the wisdom of
putting so much of our "academic" resourses into medicine.
Malaysia, as a developing country needs many other professionals as
well. With the rapidly expanding world of science, commerce, information
technology and others, these "academic" resources should be shared out.
Medicine is not the one and only profession for the best of students. I
urge parents to consider this when choosing careers for their offspirng
and students should consider this when completing their university
admission forms.
I propose no answers to the issue which I have raised. Medicine is
not all that glamorous or exciting. It is a honourable profession, one
which requires sacrifice and dedication. I would however suggest that
prospective students carefully evaluate their options when choosing their
careers and if you are not able to study medicine there a a lot more areas
to choose from.
Thank you.
Dr Riduan Abdullah
Alor Setar
Kedah
Malaysia.
Competing interests: No competing interests
In addition to the problems quoted, there is also the problem of the
summary sacking of academic and general staff in Ipoh. I was recruited as
Head of Primary Care and Public Health Medicine by the University of
Sheffield and Professor Bax who is Dean of the College and a Director of
ASMC Sdn Bhd and I therefore have more insight into this tragedy than
most.
These students were attracted to the College by the knowledge that
they were to graduate with a Sheffield MB ChB and academic staff were only
attracted to the College because we believed that the University of
Sheffield would be the academic guarantor. It is not the finacial crisis
which has hit the company but the failure of both parties to agree on the
terms of the franchise which , in turn, has led to the College having no
income. The major issue in the franchise problem has been the difficulty
in recruiting academic staff in Ipoh.
A fuller account can be given by me if interested.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Back-up Plan
Surely if the University of Sheffield was to take on such a course
with another nation, there must have been a back-up plan arranged for such
circumstances, where the students might not have been able to continue
with their studies as planned.
What will happen to these students? Well the University of Sheffield
would not want to loose these students as they are paying a substantial
amount for their education ranging from £10,000 - £12,000. Having already
paid around £20,000 plus fees for accomodation for only the pre-clinical
part of the course, it is ridiculous for the Dean of the medical school to
suggest that they cannot be guaranteed a place at sheffield. Basically the
lack of total planning has lead to the future of these students being on a
knife edge.
One proposal that has been put to the home students, who are
partaking in the course (so they are paying fees too), is to take a year
out and intercalate by doing a BSc. By which time the ASEAN medical school
might be up and running. This is a bit of a gamble as the students will
have to pay an extra years fees of the magnitude previously mentioned, and
at the end of it their future might be just as uncertain.
We have to remember that there are many students who for whatever
reason were not able to gain places at medical schools and then they go
for the private options abroad. There is a course run by University of
Prague in Czechoslovakia where many home students go and do there medical
degrees, and then end up working in the UK eventually.
I think the University of Sheffield should recognise that to organise
such courses is not easy and they should not play with the livelihoods of
the students and their parents in such a way, for their own benefit.
Competing interests: No competing interests