The government was working to increase the number of internship posts for newly graduated doctors who had to undergo a two-year foundation programme, the Malta Medical Students’ Association has said.
Welcoming the initiative, the association said it hoped more students would be able to follow educational courses overseas.
News of the initiative was communicated by Health Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne during a meeting with association officials.
The two-year foundation programme for medical students was officially set up in Malta in 2009 as an affiliated programme with the UK.
Medical Students’ Association was concerned there were not enough placements available
It is compulsory and provides all newly graduated doctors the necessary internship training needed to obtain their warrant to practise medicine and pursue their studies in the field.
The foundation school binds itself to give the trainees a structured two-year training programme exposing them to a range of career placements across a broad spectrum of specialities.
They are also taught a range of skills including communication, research time management and use of evidence and data.
The programme is also formally recognised in the UK and this is considered to be especially significant because affiliated UK status grants medical graduates easier access to specialist training in the UK if needed.
The association admitted it was concerned that the placements available were not enough in light of the increasing number of students being admitted into the medical course, with next October’s admissions reaching more than 200 students.
It said Mr Fearne told its officials negotiations were under way between Malta and the UK to increase the number of posts being offered.
The association said it would be conducting a study among its members in the coming months to obtain information on where they wanted to pursue their studies once they graduated.
The information would be passed on to the relevant authorities to aid the negotiation process in progress.