I thank Sridhar and Welsh for highlighting an important area of
concern, namely that of training oversees doctors[1,2].
It is my opinion that we should be follwoig the lead of other
countries, like the United States, that offer training fellowships. Here
doctors arrive to learn specific skills, core skills are taken to have
already been acquired.
On comleteing the training, which is usaully around three years,
trainees are equipped with skills useful abroad. This is a contrast to
doctors in the United Kindom whom must climb the ladder towards a
specilist registrar post; a job which is also difficult to attain.
Such fellwoships would then have specific educational aims. Doctors
requring 'full' training would need to join a 'residency scheme' where
basic core skills would be taught. In this way training would be tailored
and more beneficial.
1. Sridhar MK. What is the future for overseas graduates? BMJ
2000;321:307
2. Welsh C. Training overseas doctors in the United Kingdom BMJ
2000;321:253
Rapid Response:
Train the trainees.
I thank Sridhar and Welsh for highlighting an important area of
concern, namely that of training oversees doctors[1,2].
It is my opinion that we should be follwoig the lead of other
countries, like the United States, that offer training fellowships. Here
doctors arrive to learn specific skills, core skills are taken to have
already been acquired.
On comleteing the training, which is usaully around three years,
trainees are equipped with skills useful abroad. This is a contrast to
doctors in the United Kindom whom must climb the ladder towards a
specilist registrar post; a job which is also difficult to attain.
Such fellwoships would then have specific educational aims. Doctors
requring 'full' training would need to join a 'residency scheme' where
basic core skills would be taught. In this way training would be tailored
and more beneficial.
1. Sridhar MK. What is the future for overseas graduates? BMJ
2000;321:307
2. Welsh C. Training overseas doctors in the United Kingdom BMJ
2000;321:253
Competing interests: No competing interests