TRAINING OF DOCTORS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25394, 17 January 1948, Page 6

TRAINING OF DOCTORS

Present System To Continue

N.Z. UNIVERSITY’S POLICY “The Press” Special Service DUNEDIN, January 16. A policy for medical training by the University of New Zealand was determined by the University Senate today, when after considerable discussion the report of the medical committee was adopted. The committee was formed by the Senate two years ago and heard considerable evidence before preparing its report and recommendations. By adopting the report the Senate agreed that there should be no increase in the number of admissions to the Medical School, that no action should be taken to establish a new medical school, and that no more should be done to improve the present system of medical training. Apart from the recommendations made by the committee in its report, it was considered that the factors governing both applications for admission and the, requirements of the country for doctors were at present so indefinite that it was impracticable to determine the extent to which further medical education should be provided. Mr Douglas Robb (Auckland) said no place had » been made for psychology or other social Sciences or humane study, which were more fundamentally desirable in medical education in themselves and also as a widening basis on which the chief selection of students was made. The committee seemed to have taken little interest in post-graduate education. “The report is disappointing in failing to reveal awareness of changing and changed circumstances in medical matters, both world-wide and local in distribution,” said Mr Robb. “General practice is going back and losing its importance and power to serve the community.”

More Research Needed Mr Robb contended that much more clinical and statistical research was needed in New Zealand because of the increasing flood of new drugs, appliances, and methods flung upon medical practice. The United Kingdom could no longer cope with the task of training post-graduate students from Empire countries, a development which emphasised the need for more attention to the post-graduate field. New Zealand also had specific duties in the South Pacific. The Chancellor (Sir David Smith) said that if the report were to be dealt with as Mr Robb suggested long discussion would be involved, and members would be required to vote on a number of separate subjects on which they did not possess any special knowledge. Mr T- D. M. Stout (Wellington) said that the recommendations in the report should cover the position until another medical school was opened. The subjects of sixth-year and postgraduate education had been particularly considered by the committee. An amendment was moved by Mr W. H. Cocker (Auckland) and seconded by Mr Robb that the report should be adopted for the immediate future, but that a committee should be appointed to give further consideration to the medical education of sixth-year students and to post-graduate education. Second Medical School Dr. P. P. Lynch (Wellington) criticised the suggestion that sixth-year instruction at Auckland for instance would provide’ a beginning for a second medical school. This would be building from the roof down instead of from foundations up. When a new school was started it should begin with instruction in anatomy and physiology. Dr. Lynch said that some members of the Senate had lost sight of the value of education as provided at present. He commended the present system of post-graduate education. “When the population of New Zealand reaches 2,500,000 or 3,000,000, a second medical school will be necessary,” said Dr. Lynch. “The Senate should give early consideration to where a second school should be established.” Dr. Lynch said that because of the large and increasing population of the Auckland district the second school should be at Auckland. He suggested the making of long-range plans for such a decision and referred to the need for the early acquisition of the land required. Both Dr. Lynch and Mr Stout supported the adoption of the report. Mr Stout referred to the increased number of graduates when the demand for medical services was so great in New Zealand, which possessed one registered doctor for every 850 of population, the highest proportion of registered doctors in the world. • “The ‘busy practitioners’ are the ones to give instruction,” Mr Stout added. men who work with patients and work with their hands work on the essential basis of medical education and are best fitted to provide instruction.” After further discussion the amendment was lost and the report was adopted. ___'