International Panel's Preliminary Findings on Medical Education System - Ministry of Education press release (17 Aug 2001)

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1. The international medical education review panel has concluded its second visit to Singapore. Over the last 3 days (15 - 17 August 2001), the panel met medical officers and registrars from various hospitals, medical students and junior medical faculty of NUS. It also met the Minister for Trade & Industry and key stakeholders of the life science initiatives.

2. The panel framed its review of medical education in Singapore against the background of the following assumptions, namely that Singapore seeks:

3. The panel observed that medical resources in the public sector are severely stretched in carrying out clinical services at the hospitals. Based on their dialogue with groups of junior doctors from the hospitals, the panel noted that these doctors work long hours and have little time to do biomedical research.

4. Given Singapore's thrust in the biomedical sciences, there will be a greater demand for doctors to undertake biomedical research. Coupled with the heavy patient workload in our hospitals, there is a strong case to increase the number of doctors in Singapore. The panel felt that Singapore should plan to train more medical students as a result.

5. The panel observed that more can be done to promote a vibrant biomedical research culture among the doctors in hospitals and the faculty at NUS. The panel noted that the existing conditions are not ideal for research as there is no protected time set aside for research, insufficient incentives to do research as well as a lack of career path for doctors doing research.

6. With a solid foundation of clinical research, Singapore will be well placed to be a biomedical hub in the region and internationally. It will be an attractive location for the international biomedical industry. Such a foundation would also provide a vibrant environment for the creation of small bio-tech companies.

7. The panel assessed that the NUS Medical School is doing a very good job of training doctors to serve the healthcare needs of Singapore. The recent curriculum revision undertaken by NUS is in line with the best international practice.

8. The panel noted that Singapore General Hospital has considerable resources and facilities to support the training of doctors. In the short term, to increase the number of locally trained doctors, one suggestion being considered is to set up a graduate-only entry stream at NUS which could possibly be based at Singapore General Hospital. This might be done in cooperation with a foreign university.

9. The panel also noted that in the longer term, Singapore will need a second medical school as NUS is reaching the limits in terms of the size of what is considered a good medical school internationally. On NTU's proposal to set up a medical school, the panel considered that the university would need to first develop its physical sciences as well as its new School of Biological Sciences (to be established in 2002) before seeking to establish a medical school.

10. The panel plans to submit its final report to the Ministry of Education by the end of November 2001.

11. In January 2001, the Ministry of Education commissioned a review of the system of medical education in Singapore to ensure that our medical education system is up-to-date and capable of meeting the needs of medical care, clinical research and the life sciences industry. The panel is led by Lord Ronald Oxburgh, Honorary Professor, University of Cambridge. The other members of the panel are: Professor Per Belfrage (former Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lund, Sweden), Professor John Bell (Nuffield Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Oxford, UK), Professor Richard Larkins (Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia), and Dr Edward D. Miller (CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine & Dean of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA).

12. During its first visit to Singapore (23-26 April 2001), the panel visited the medical faculty at NUS, facilities relating to life sciences initiatives at NTU, the School of Health Sciences at Nanyang Polytechnic as well as hospitals and research institutes. They also met with DPM/Minister for Defence, Minister for Health, Minister for Education, as well as officials from MOE, MOH, EDB, and NSTB. The panel also met members of the medical profession and the life sciences industry to learn about their manpower needs and concerns pertaining to their respective professions.