Concerning Increase in Private Medical Places
7 June 2010
The Australian Medical Students’ Association is concerned about the growing trend towards domestic private medical school places after The University of Notre Dame Sydney announced there will be an increase in private places and a decrease in public places in its medical program from next year.
The University of Notre Dame Sydney runs a mixed public/private four year medical course. From 2011, the University of Notre Dame Sydney will increase domestic private places by 20, from 32 to 52 out of a total of 112, while decreasing the number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) by the same amount from 80 to 60. Private students pay almost $35,000 per year (approximately $140 000 in total).
“It is very concerning that domestic private students will now constitute almost 50% of students when previously it was closer to 30%,” said acting AMSA President Sam Whitehouse.
“In the present context of a nationwide doctor shortage, we should not be forcing students to pay exorbitant fees to study medicine in Australia. If a University has the capacity to train 112 students, they should all be offered Commonwealth Supported Places,” he said.
This announcement comes after The University of Melbourne recently decided to admit private domestic students into its new four year Masters-level Doctor of Medicine program.
“In the space of a month, two Universities have announced increases in private medical places for local students.
“Because of its competitive nature, medical degrees have the potential to be used as ‘cash cows’ by universities who know they can charge a high price for the privilege of studying medicine. But access to higher education should be accessible to all Australians and entry into medicine should be based solely on merit, rather than the ability to afford private fees.
“By offering private places, universities are flouting the recommendations of the Bradley report into Higher Education, which stressed the importance of low socioeconomic participation in higher education. Furthermore, any such universities are potentially compromising the quality of their students, and hence the next generation of Australia’s doctors,” said Mr Whitehouse.
AMSA calls on the Federal Government to legislate a ban on all private domestic places in Australian medical schools.
