Friday, 20th June 2008
Time to set up post-graduate medical centre with own dean
Junior doctors are tomorrow's consultants. We need them today and we will need them more tomorrow.
We must provide junior doctors with a proper career structure locally - and this is the fundamental issue. Junior doctors leave Malta because they want to continue learning. They cannot do this without a proper post-graduate training and career structure.
There is no career structure at present - young doctors are keen to learn and advance their knowledge.
We are failing them by not providing the system within which they can learn and train. They should be able to train in Malta and remain here. This is their country. This is their place. We want them to stay and we need to act now.
I propose that we establish a post-graduate medical centre with its own dean so that it can start operating at once.
This post-graduate medical centre should be independent of the University and certainly independent of the present Medical Faculty at the University of Malta, which should remain responsible for undergraduate training.
I see a golden opportunity looming. As it so happens, representatives of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, who have a certain amount of expertise in this post-graduate training area, are visiting Malta this week. The RCSI are keen to start a graduate entry medical school in Malta as they have in three other countries.
I would add post-graduate training to the RCSI's undergraduate proposals and I am certain that the RCSI would be willing to share their expertise with us.
Please don't express surprise if you hear of determined opposition to my proposal. Expect this from those who see this as a threat to their comfortable lifestyles - or they see in these junior doctors tomorrow's competitors.
I see in these junior doctors tomorrow's consultants. Go for it minister. Many medical colleagues will support you. I certainly will.
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Comments
Mr Philips Camilleri’s Comments
Setting up a Postgraduate Medical Centre in Malta does not exclude periods of training abroad
Indeed in most Countries the UK included exchange programmes are the order of the day
A Postgraduate programme would involve doctors coming on an exchange basis with other Countries
There would be vacancies for all those Doctors who would join a Postgraduate Programme .
One of the main functions of the Postgraduate Dean would be to advise Doctors which specialities are required – and once a Doctor enters a programme He/She would be guaranteed a Consultant post on successfully finishing training
I have to agree with Philip that we require a shake up
I would do much more than that – given half a chance .
I would start by making sure we would have a full time Hospital and full time Lecturers and a full time Dean
This Walter Mitty world of part timers would be over with me around
No more Games either
Post graduate training in larger countries will always be more attractive to young doctors because of the greater variety in pathologies, more exposure to new technologies, new medications, new skills and most important of all, more opportunities.
"I see in these junior doctors tomorrow's consultants" Please!! This is nothing but a soundbite and a bad one at that. Not all of today's junior doctors can become consultants in Malta because of the sheer numbers involved. Think about it for a second Frank.
If the maltese government seriously intends to entice doctors back from the UK, it requires a radical shake up in the way the health system is funded, managed and organised. Removing the current regulation that effectively disadvantages maltese who are trained overseas would be a good place to start.
Malta is graced with excellent medical and nursing staff, as well as a new hospital building. The reality is that most medical disciplines are making the best of a bad job, hobbled as they are by lack of funds, lack of initiative at decision making level and good old fashioned beaurocracy that plagues the health system.
http://www.gwumc.edu/imp/education/isgws.cfm
http://www.gwumc.edu/imp/education/intlclinic.cfm
Clinical Professor of Surgery Dr Stanley Knoll and Dr. Huda Ayas, the Medical Director and the Executive Director respectively, of the Office of International Medicine Programs at GWUMC, visited Malta a few years back and reached an agreement on an international clinical electives exchange programme with the Maltese authorities.
http://www.gwumc.edu/imp/about/faculty.cfm
Dr. Frank Portelli’s letter makes sense and his initiative is excellent, but I guess that it needs to go through the proper channels to get off the ground.
In the meantime, should Maltese medical students not be made aware of the opportunities that already exist and try to make the best use of them?
I regret to remark that, at present, a vision of an independent post-graduate medical centre in Malta, with its own dean, can only be regarded as whims of Utopia.
As your good self commented in today's (Friday) Bongu TV programme, one should preferably think on a mid-term level.
In your letter, I unfortunately miss any reference to respective mid-term logistics required by an independent medical post-graduate centre, more so, when I happen to be aware of your views with respect to hospital management and provision of health services.
However, do not let me discourage you.