While the number of medical students being accepted at our universities is steadily increasing there are insufficient internships available for them when they graduate.
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The problem is that students must complete an internship before they can practise medicine.
Ben Veness, the student representative on the Council of the Australian Medical Association (NSW), said fee-paying international students are at the bottom of the list to be offered internships because the government gives priority to Australian students, because it feels they are more likely to stay and practise medicine in this country.
However, he said the reality is that those missing out are good students who know the Australian medical system and for that reason are just as likely to stay.
Mr Veness is a third year medical student at the University of Sydney. He has just completed a five-week placement with Dr Hal Rikard-Bell at the Russell Street Medical Centre.
He said from an intern’s point of view, continuity of training is everything.
“You have the knowledge, you have to start applying it,” he said. “They knew how many students would be graduating this year, why didn’t they have the places ready.”
Dr Rikard-Bell was president of the Rural Doctors’ Association in 1991-92. He said one of the biggest problems in medicine today is trying to attract doctors to the bush.
“We are recruiting overseas doctors, yet we have Australian graduates who are caught up in a battle between the State and Federal Governments as to who will pick up the tab.”
Mr Veness said 100 intern places were found for the 160 students graduating this year.
“It’s a great opportunity to replenish the workforce, but only if we give them jobs.
“Essentially the State and Federal Governments need to sit down together and work out a plan for the future of doctors in this country.
“They have increased the number of spots for medical students but haven’t finished the job by giving them positions.”
Mr Veness said in 2002 there were 1600 medical graduates. It is predicted that by 2016 there will be 4000.
“No-one knows if there will be training places for that many or if there will be work for them when they are done,” he said. “It’s frustrating and sad for medical students. This is what happens when we don’t plan.”
Dr Rikard-Bell agreed, saying that no-one has any idea how many doctors are needed, now or in the future.
Mr Veness said opening up more places in the Rural Preferential Recruitment scheme could be one answer.
“It’s over-subscribed each year because it provides good experience. If they opened up more places and filled them it would be a great way to get people from the city working in the bush,” Mr Veness said.