'No jobs for medical grads next year'

The Malaysian Medical Association says there are too many medical graduates and too many private medical colleges.

THERE are too many medical students graduating every year and not enough hospitals to train and provide jobs for them, said the Malaysian Medical Association.

If the situation continues, there would be no place for these graduates to undergo training by next year, its president Datuk Dr N.K.S. Tharmaseelan said.

He said there were "too many medical graduates, and too many private medical colleges; almost 40 now for a population of about 28 million".

"This is probably one of the highest per capita in the world. For many years, the MMA has vehemently opposed the flooding of the market to overcome the shortage of doctors. However, as we were regularly assured that many rural areas still lacked doctors and that there was no likelihood for jobless doctors, many continued to pursue medical courses.

One lacks infrastructure while the other allowed the opening of more and more medical colleges, and offered nursing, physiotherapy and other allied health professional courses without determining whether they can assimilate these individuals or provide jobs. Medical colleges have sprouted up and the entry qualifications into these colleges are frighteningly low; only four B4 credits in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia or Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia examinations are needed.

"The Health Ministry should ensure there are enough hospitals built to cater for training doctors, and the MMC should constantly review and monitor the standards of medical colleges both in Malaysia and overseas."

Read more: 'No jobs for medical grads next year' - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/no-jobs-for-medical-grads-next-year-1.396549?cache=%22%27%3CbvU7C%3E%3Fpage%3D0%2F7.111698%2F7.287479%2F7.288059%2F7.448418%2F7.448418%2F7.490557%2F7.490557%2F7.490557%2F7.490557%2F7.490557#ixzz2kaYCho7n