Leading medical schools for Asian students

By Asian Correspondent

THE world of medical education is undergoing rapid change – and Asia is benefiting. Internationalism is driving higher education and medical schools are embracing this change as both a challenge and an opportunity. As the world of medical science develops, this field of education is becoming more internationalised. No longer are students and teachers following the “traditional approach” of a localised curriculum developed in home countries but expanding and appreciating the methods of teaching and extent of education from countries far and wide.

Medical education has developed into a competitive field that stresses an international approach, mobility for teachers and students, and the ability to foster and exchange relationships with universities from other countries.

With an increasing need to train upcoming medical professionals from the East in world-class research and education, Asia and all its hopeful doctors are presented with an advantage – an opportunity to move beyond their countries to absorb the full potential of unrivalled and outstanding education. As more universities from across the world not only open their doors to international students, but make efforts to spot the talent within Asia, programmes and degrees are being crafted to attract the very best from across the world.

Singapore and Malaysia are leading these collaborations with India and China following close behind. More than a third of Singapore’s 4,500 doctors train abroad; Malaysia has increased medical training from 700 doctors 10 years ago, a quarter of which would practice abroad, to over 3,000 doctors a year today and a prediction of increasing this by a thousand in the next five years. Both these countries, and several others in Asia, are either focussing on the importance of homegrown doctors or bringing home medical talent after they have completed degrees in other countries.

Indian education is also quickly getting an international makeover. The country’s medical education sector is one of the largest in the world – with over 300 medical colleges and an intake of 35,200 towards the undergraduate MBBS degree. The country is fast increasing foreign collaborations with the growing need for more doctors. India estimates a need for a further 800,000 doctors, even though there are currently almost 750,000 doctors on the rolls. In order to meet these requirements medical education is accelerating, with a need for 500 more medical schools. This also results in students from the country being encouraged to move to foreign universities to receive the best education there is in order to help fill this shortfall.

Renowned ophthalmologist from Kolkata, Dr PB Sarkar from Salt Lake Eye Foundation, explains the benefits of an international education for Asian students. He tells Asian Correspondent: “Firstly, these students get to access advanced medical facilities with diagnostic procedures. Secondly, they are also educated in basic treatment protocol – treatments in India and other Asian countries are often varied depending on the doctor whereas it is more uniform in the West. The exposure that they get to experienced and senior foreign faculty is definitely an important part of their learning. Moreover, a foreign medical education also guarantees discipline of the medical practice.”

There has also been a surge in collaborations between British and US medical schools and those from the East. These partnerships have also encouraged institutes in Asia to heighten the quality of training and research, truly absorbing the best of international education. Partnering with schools in other countries also allow their students to soak in the expertise of the exchange faculty along with the culture of a different country.

http://asiancorrespondent.com/54708/leading-medical-schools-for-asian-students/