Ten Per Cent Of Medical Students Forgo Ambition To Be Doctors

PUTRAJAYA, April 2 (Bernama) -- Ten per cent of the 1,500 medical students who graduate annually decide against pursuing medical practice as a career, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said Monday.
This was because they had not expected the profession to demand such high commitment and come with the pressure of heavy work, he said.
He said this could be due to the age factor as they graduated when they were rather young.
"The decision was made after the students had gone for practical training at hospitals or clinics where they were exposed to the real working conditions although not yet commissioned as doctors," he told reporters.
Although the percentage involved was small, it would be better if the decision was made before they took up the course or during the course so that others could take their place, Dr Latiff said at the signing of an agreement between Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Allianze College Of Medical Science (ACMC) and the Health Ministry on the use of health facilities at the ministry's hospitals and clinics.
Dr Abdul Latiff said the ministry welcomed the measure implemented last year by the Public Service Department (PSD) to expose future medical students to the working environment of doctors for three days.
"We only want medical students who really desire to become doctors and not those who pursue the course due to pressure from others," he added.