So, here you are! As I have been saying over the last 1 year, with 33 medical schools in the country we will achieve a ratio of 1: 600 by 2016 and 1: 400 by 2020. We should also not forget about the foreign medical graduates from various countries in the world. Of course, those students who are going overseas for medical educations from 2012 onwards (if the amended medical act is tabled in Parliament by this July), will have to sit for an entrance exam upon returning home. This will be used as a filtering mechanism. After achieving the target (too fast, too soon) , what’s next?
So, for those who did not believe what I have been saying about jobless doctors, please pay attention. It will become a reality. The number of graduates will increase exponentially from now onwards. Almost half of these medical schools have not produced their graduates yet. Furthermore, most of these medical colleges have not achieved their maximum capacity. For example, Monash is targeting 150 students intake by 2012 compared to 100 now. Newcastle is targeting 180 students compared to 40 students in their first batch (currently in year 3). So, the existing medical schools will continue to increase their intake , if not they will not be able to make any profit.
The worst is yet to come when all these doctors are going to curse themselves for being a doctor. The postgraduate market is very much limited and the private sector is becoming very saturated. Most GPs are not doing well either. I was told that the latest survey showed that only about 30% of GPs are making net profit of more than 6K/month! So, if you are in for the money, please forget it and choose something else rather than wasting your hard-earned money in doing medicine. Put the money to good use. You will never get back what you had invested, trust me!
The government will not be able to provide job to all graduates by 2016/2017. They may introduce an exam to filter out some students. Or you will be asked to serve rural areas for years and you will never be able to say NO. Some graduates may end up in pharmaceutical companies or as paramedics like what we have seen in countries like Thailand, Vietnam and India.
This 5 years freeze is not going to make any difference. God Bless…………….
Five-year freeze on new medical courses effective immediately
By ALYCIA LIM
KUALA LUMPUR: A five-year freeze on new medical courses, to prevent the glut of trainee doctors in the country from worsening, has been approved by the Cabinet and is effective immediately.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who announced this Thursday, said the moratorium would not affect the number of medical staff required by the country, and that the focus on quality would be ensured.
“We are looking at a doctor-patient ratio of 1:400 by the year 2020, which fulfils the requirement of an advanced nation.
“From the number of students currently enrolled at the 33 higher education institutions nationwide, we can achieve that target,” he said at a press conference, after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Open University Malaysia and Master Builders Association Malaysia.
Mohamed Khaled added that the current doctor-patient ratio was 1:1000.
“The ministry will focus on monitoring the quality of the medical courses currently offered, and for institutions that do not meet the criteria and skills accreditation, their current recognition may be recalled until they improve.”
In December, he had said the moratorium would prohibit the launch of new medical programmes in the country, with existing medical schools encouraged to focus more on quality.
On Nov 27, The Star had highlighted concerns over the glut on the number of housemen and the quality of fresh medical graduates.
As of Jan 31, Malaysia has 33 higher education institutions offering medical courses, including 11 public higher education institutions and 22 private ones.
Medical fraternity welcomes temporary freeze on new medical courses
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) welcomed the Higher Education Ministry’s decision in imposing a five year freeze on new medical courses on institutions of higher learning in the country.
Its president, Dr David Quek, said the move would give enough time for institutions of higher learning in the country to produce experienced and quality medical graduates.
“Medical graduates cannot be produced at the drop of a hat, without proper planning, like the teaching force, training facilities and clinical items. It is impossible,” he said when contacted by Bernama here Friday.
He said this in response to a Thursday announcement by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin that a freeze of five years on new medical courses had been imposed on institutions of higher learning in the country.
The moratorium was decided based on several factors, including the marked increase in the number of medical graduates, competency of housemen, teaching staff and teaching hospitals.
Chairman of the Medical Dean’s Council, Prof Datuk Dr Nik Mohd Nasri Nik Ismail, said the council members unanimously agreed with the government’s decision as there were already enough medical courses in the country.
“There has to be some control. There are about 33 public and private institutions of higher learning which offer medical courses and this is enough to meet the country’s need for medical doctors in future,” he added.
Dr Nik Mohd Nasri, who is the Dean of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia’s Medical Faculty, said that during the moratorium, there was a need for public institutions of higher learning to improve and enhance medical studies at their respective faculties.
“After three years, we will review the situation to see if the freeze is still necessary.
“The Dean’s Council will discuss the matter with the Higher Education Department and the Malaysian Medical Council,” he added. – Bernama
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