Australia’s university medical schools are under financial pressure, according to Professor Justin Beilby, who was elected yesterday as President of Medical Deans of Australia and New Zealand.
“Our analysis shows that Federal Government’s education funding covers only about half the cost of an actual medical degree, and this is simply unsustainable,” Professor Beilby said.
The pressure is on, which according to the Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand, has been caused by “a shortage of training places, challenges finding enough academic staff and uncertainty about the future demand for doctors.”
The professional body which represents professional entry-level medical education, training and research in Australia will be working with Health Workforce Australia to review future medical workforce needs.
“Currently we are unclear about how many medical students we need to train for the future, so we are keen to see the results later this year of a comprehensive review by Health Workforce Australia, which will detail the workforce planning needs through to 2025 in its National Training Plan,” Professor Beilby said.
"There has been a significant increase in the number of medical students in recent years, and it is essential we do not increase that number until we have a proper, detailed workforce plan," he said.
“We also need to ensure there are sufficient funds and sufficient academic staff to educate the existing student cohort and maintain the very high standard we have set in Australia.”
The newly elected Executive Dean emphasised the view that all graduates from Australia’s universities – including international medical students – should have access to an internship place of at least a year, usually in a hospital but increasingly in the community. This is required before graduates can practise medicine.