Third medical school discussed
A THIRD medical school would focus on encouraging all graduates to enter general practice roles, University of Waikato vicechancellor Prof Neil Quigley says.
Prof Quigley and University of Otago provicechancellor of health sciences Prof Peter Crampton yesterday discussed merits and disadvantages of a third medical school during the General Practice Conference at Dunedin’s Glenroy Auditorium.
About 450 doctors from throughout New Zealand attended the first day of the conference which attracted speakers including Minister of Health Dr Jonathan Coleman and Ministry of Health chief medical officer Andrew Simpson.
While discussing the merits of a graduate entry medical school in New Zealand, Prof Quigley said 43.4% of the New Zealand medical work force came from overseas.
The University of
Otago and Auckland medical schools did not offer graduateonly entry and a proposed Waikato District Health Board and the University of
Waikato medical school would do so, he said.
‘‘The point of more medical education places has to be different workforce outcomes.’’
The proposed medical school would offer a postgraduate qualification available to students with any degree.
While students could choose what sector they entered upon graduation, a Waikato medical school would emphasise general practice training, Prof Quigley said.
University of Otago provicechancellor of health sciences Prof Peter Crampton told a packed room at the conference a proposal to build a National School of Rural Health in partnership with Auckland medical school would be a ‘‘gamechanger’’.
Under the proposal 10 rurallybased hubs would be established in towns near hospitals to offer medical training and ensure academics were rurally based, Prof Crampton said.
Both proposals were being considered by Treasury and the Ministry of Health.
The cost of the options were not public.
Today general practitioner and chairman of the United Kingdom National Obesity Forum Prof David Haslam gives the keynote address on the strategies for fighting obesity.
margot.taylor@odt.co.nz