More grads may remain in Ireland

NST: More Malaysian studying medicine in Ireland may not return to work in Malaysia.
"From the kind of questions they asked, you know already," Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said when he spoke of his recent visit to the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and the University College Ireland where he met some 500 Malaysian students.
"Some of them asked me: 'If I finish, but I don't want to return, can or not'?"
"I asked them 'why not?' and they said they could earn good money working as locum, getting between euro300 and euro400 a day (RM1,327 and RM1,770)," Dr Chua said.
"They were disappointed to hear me say that in Malaysia a doctor in public service will earn over RM3,000 a month. They are also worried about working long hours."
The New Sunday Times reported that some 100 Malaysians who earned their basic medical degrees in Ireland had stayed on to work as locum. Many were on Mara scholarships.
Dr Chua found this out after a visit to the two Irish universities.
Today, he said he had no problem with doctors who remained in Ireland to continue their studies in a specialised programme.
His criticism was directed at those who had finished their basic degree and done housemanship.
"They change their student visas to work visas and continue working when they should either return to serve Malaysia, or continue with a postgraduate programme."