Materia Medica Malaysiana

Uni to accept offshore doctors

MONASH University will set up the nation's first offshore medical school next year in a move that could allow more than 100 foreign graduates from its Malaysian campus to practise in Australia without further training.

The Australian Medical Council, the body responsible for accrediting graduates from medical schools, is holding talks with the Melbourne institution about whether to permit the graduates to practise in Australia without additional study.

"It's a bit up in the air because the AMC, under its present constitution, can't accredit courses outside of Australia," said the council's executive officer, Ian Frank. But Monash vice-chancellor Richard Larkins said the Malaysian course would be on par with the medical degree offered in Melbourne, so there should be no issue with Australian accreditation of international students.

"There would have to be the AMC accreditation of the program, but since it's the same program that occurs in Australia, and we're making sure the quality of the facilities and all the other activities are comparable, we don't anticipate any problem," Professor Larkins said.

Mr Frank said he was concerned Monash had indicated it would not differentiate between graduates from its Australian school and the Malaysian school.