Materia Medica Malaysiana

Plan to recruit more teaching staff soon

Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Shafie Salleh yesterday took questions on the controversy surrounding the 128 STPM students not offered places to study medicine. This is an excerpt of the Press conference.

Q: Previously the ministry had announced that all places in public universities are filled. Now, why are you saying the students will be absorbed subject to availability of places?

A: We are looking at the overall picture meaning these students will be at both public and private universities for six years, which includes two years of pre-clinical. At one time, University of Malaya had one lecturer to 10 students and the Malaysian Medical Council did not recognise the degrees. Therefore, I have discussed with MMC yesterday, and it has agreed to expand the lecturer and student ratio from 1:4 to 1:6 during clinical years. This translates to one hospital bed having six students, three on each side of the bed with one lecturer supervising. If there are eight or 10 students, those standing behind will have their views obstructed. Now, they allow the 1:6 ratio and anything more is not allowed. If we disregard the ratio, MMC will not recognise the degrees.

Q: Now the public universities use the 1:4 ratio. What about the private institutions?

A: It applies to both sectors.

Q: Does this mean that the 128 students will be absorbed into the private sector?

A: They can be enrolled in any university during the pre-clinical years because there is no fixed ratio to follow. However, during the clinical years, we are applying the ratio of 1:6.

Q: Can the students choose the universities to do their medicine?

A: No. The 128 students will be distributed to both public and private institutions. Because of the fixed 1:4 ratio by MMC, universities have used this ratio for their student enrolment throughout the six years in learning medicine. Now, we modify the system a bit to allow more students for the pre-clinical years and follow the new 1:6 ratio for clinical years.

Q: Does this mean that after their two years’ pre-clinical course, they may be transferred elsewhere to accommodate the 1:6 ratio for clinical studies?

A: Yes.

Q: Will this also apply to future batches?

A: We will cross the bridge when we come to it. That is why we are working towards expanding the facilities, getting more money from the Government and hiring more teaching staff from Commonwealth countries. We will do this because of growing interest among the people to become doctors.

Q: When can we know who will be going to either public and private universities?

A: Give me two weeks, God willing. They should apply for a place internally to their respective universities. Meaning that they still have to register in the programmes that they have been selected for initially and then submit an application for a place in the medical faculty of the same university.

Q: Those who are absorbed, do they have to bear their own cost?

A: They will be given convertible loans, meaning if they excel their loans will be converted to scholarships. They can also seek financial aid from the Higher Education Fund.

Q: How many universities offer medicine?

A: Eleven. I have been informed by (Health Minister Datuk) Dr Chua Soi Lek that he has got in touch with the private institutions and they are willing to absorb the students.

Q: How can they prove that they are part of the 128 students who have chosen medicine as their first choice? Others can make similar claims too.

A: We can check with our database. The ministry will inform the universities and medical faculties about the 128 students.
A master list will be given to the six public universities offering medical programmes.

Q: What are the criteria to determine whether they will go either to the private or public learning institutions?

A: This is an administrative matter. A discussion will be held with the deans of medical faculties.

Q: Why can’t you offer a place now to the students since their preference is known?

A: There are certain procedures to follow under the meritocracy system. We have to check the students’ grades with others applying for the same course. We run this through the computer.

Q: Does this show that the system is weak?

A: No. Due to limited places, we have to check students’ achievements from every aspect including their matriculation and STPM results, SPM results and co-curricular performances.

Q: What is your guarantee that this matter will not recur?

A: We will develop the facilities for critical areas like medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, engineering and others. We need career counsellors to explain to students that there are different fields in the health industry. For instance, bio-medical, science, dietetics, optometry and others. There is a deficit of 49,000 health experts in Malaysia now.

Q: What is the additional cost to upgrade the existing learning facilities?

A: This will only be known under the next budget.

Q: Those who get four points, are they guaranteed to be enrolled in medicine in the future?

A: Next year, we will look into it. We will ask the deans to look into this. I just do not know whether they want to do medicine because they want to do it or their parents want them to be doctors. They must understand the nature of the job as doctors.

Q: How much does it cost to study medicine?

A: For each student, the Government subsidises RM50,000 a year. The Higher Education Fund gives a loan of RM100,000 for five year