clinical training capacity to increase with new funding, but quality needs to be assured
23 April 2010
The Australian Medical Students' Association welcomes yesterday's announcement of a significant expansion in clinical training capacity for medical students by the State and Federal Health Ministers, but says that the quality of these places must be scrutinised.
President of the Australian Medical Students' Association Ross Roberts-Thomson said that the $496 million in extra funding will go a long way towards improving medical education in Australia.
"These funds will enable growth in clinical training capacity in new sectors, as well as provide for new training facilities in currently underserviced areas. These include rural and remote communities, primary care settings and mental health facilities which offer students essential training opportunities.
"With the large increase in medical student numbers over recent years, AMSA has been calling for greater emphasis on increasing and improving clinical training. It's good to see that the Health Ministers are taking this issue seriously," said Mr Roberts-Thomson.
"Clinical training is an essential component of a medical program and the part of training which is most valued by students. However, not only must there be a sufficient number of clinical training places for Australian medical students, but these places must be quality places. Providing quality clinical training is absolutely essential if we are to maintain Australia's high standards of medical education.
"AMSA calls for a national body to objectively determine Australia's total quality clinical training capacity, and for the number of medical student places to be regulated so as this capacity is not exceeded.
"Until such a time as we know exactly what Australia's clinical training capacity for medical students is, AMSA calls for a freeze on any further increases in medical student numbers," he said.
