Frightening truths about medical education
Published:Monday | September 6, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Editor, Sir:
Please publish this as an open letter to the policy-makers on medical education.
My concerns stem from the fact that I have just been accepted by the Faculty of Medical Sciences, UWI, Mona. Of course, my friends and I are extremely excited as our dreams can be realised. Citizens of Jamaica who are sponsored by the Government pay just over half a million Jamaican dollars each year for tuition. Those of us, who received a 50 per cent bursary, pay US$12,500 (J$1,112,830) which is half the full tuition which is US$25,000.
I always applaud administrations in their strides to provide equity by providing health and education up to secondary school to all citizens free of cost. I have grown to appreciate equity as it relates to human development.
Overwhelming cost
It must be noted that the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery programme is not fully sponsored by the Government and as a result, the overwhelming cost is ... just overwhelming.
To compound matters, the only medical students able to benefit from the UWI scholarships and book grants or make use of the Students' Loan Bureau are those who are government-sponsored! That is, the only persons who can get help are those paying $501,479.00 while those paying $1,112,830.00 and not to mention the full fee-paying students ($2,225,660.00) are left to fend for themselves.
These policies determine who enters (or does not enter) the institution. It is disheartening because there are many persons who qualify for training in medicine and surgery, but cannot afford it. This means that the only persons affording tuition are those who are already of the social class that can afford it. Therefore, social mobility for the rest of us becomes impossible and unreachable. These policies ensure that the country remains socially stratified, and human development is not achieved. It is no wonder our hospitals are understaffed, and overburdened.
A friend from Trinidad, told me of the Government Assisted Tertiary Education programme where they do not pay for their tertiary fees. I often wonder why it seems that T&T is more developed than we are, and it has become clearer to me: equity in education.
The policy with regard to the nursing students is also one of great concern. The nursing students pay US$5,000, and the Jamaicans in the Doctor of Dental surgery in Trinidad pay US$3,000 because of Government of Jamaica spon-sorship. While I support the drive to encourage the study of dentistry, I make my impassioned plea for the nursing students. After paying tuition higher than that of dentists, the wage disparity at the end of their study MUST shock anyone! And the climate that registered nurses will emerge into must also be disheartening. These are the frightening truths of our future medical professionals.
The policy regarding medical students must be reviewed. There are many of us who have no inclination to leave Jamaica, as our country needs skilled persons to aid in the development. The Gleaner on August 16 reported that "Of the 1.1 million people employed in Jamaica in October last year, 117,400 of them have university degrees." This is also disheartening because at the top of the social pyramid are those with university degrees, while the rest remain to suffer without the ability to afford tertiary education. All I want to be is a doctor, serving in whatsoever manner.
I am, etc.,
RANI SITTOL