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Media Statement
by Dr Tan Seng Giaw  
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(Kuala Lumpur, Sunday) : I would like to correct the mistake on the duration of the training of British medical specialists posted in the blog. For example, if a doctor passed every examination the first time and has all the luck in applying for recognized or numbered jobs, he or she requires at least 12 years before applying for a consultant job.

This was the draft. I have corrected it, but posted the wrong version on the blog.

In fact, there is a sea change in the training of British medical specialists. The British National Health Service (NHS) and the Department of Health try to explain the modernising of medical careers. NHS outlines the Foundation Programme of two years to replace housemanship of a year, Specialist "Run Through" Training Programmes, New Fixed-Term Specialist Training Posts and Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).

After spending four to six years in a medical school, a doctor can become a General Practioner four years after graduation and a Consultant General Physician six years after graduation. Cardiac and other specialists may take longer. A house doctor is called a foundation doctor.

Vision 2020 aims at making Malaysia a developed nation by 2020. The population and the medical service are changing . We must look into the changes in the modernisation of medical careers in other countries such as U.K. What type of modernisation does Malaysia need?
 

(11/2/2007)