Parliamentary Secretary for Health Joe Cassar yesterday promised to do whatever it takes to stop the brain drain of young doctors leaving to practice in the UK.

One of the first steps in achieving this is a memorandum of understanding signed yesterday with the UK Foundation Programme to set up a two-year local training course for junior doctors in July.

In past years, young Maltese medical graduates have had to leave the island to follow the British foundation course in order to apply for a specialist post in the UK. This meant a large percentage of medical graduates chose to leave.

The government is now working to ensure young graduates can carry out their specialisation in Malta, Dr Cassar said.

The foundation course will be open to all new junior doctors and focuses on key skills such as communication and multi-disciplinary teamwork. Doctors in their first year of housemanship have formed part of a pilot foundation programme and will receive certification at the end of their two-year training.

This week, UK professionals organised a training programme for Maltese consultants and specialists. These in turn will train Maltese junior doctors following the course.

UK foundation programme deputy director Stuart Carney explained that the foundation course forms a bridge between medical school and specialisation training.

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