15 per cent cut in medical school intake

Press, 25 September 1980, Page 2

15 per cent cut in medical school intake

PA Wellington The Government has approved a cut of 12.5 per cent in next year’s intake for the two medical schools, tl.j Minister of Health (Mr Gair) and the Minister of Education (Mr Wellington) announced in a joint statement yesterday. The cut is the second part of the Government’s planned 25 per cent reduction in student intakes for medical schools. “The decision will mean the intake’s being reduced from about 285 students to 250,” said the statement. It had been projected that without this reduction, up to 1000 doctors might be surplus to requirements by 1986. The Ministers said: “Given the six years needed for undergraduate medical education, remedial steps are necessary now to influence this situation. The intake reduction should result in a decrease in the expected 1986

surplus from 1000 to 850,” they said. Last year, the Government approved in principle a reduction of 25 per cent in medical school intakes jn two annual steps. Beginning in 1980, the second step was subject to the Government and the medical profession reaching agreement on ways of overcoming the maldistribution of doctors.

“It is considered, however, that no special step need be taken immediately regarding the distribution of specialists and general practitioners, except to ensure that a mechanism is available to provide general-practitioner services in localities of special short-term need,” the statement said.

The Advisory Committee on Medical Manpower, had established two committees to inquire into the distribution of specialists and general practitioners and its reports should soon be available, the statement said.