Russia is now offering more places to our aspiring medical students. They have purportedly one of the best medical schools in the world. If you look through the list of medical institutions recognised by the MMC, there is actually a very long list. Of course, traditionally countries which attract medical students are UK, Ireland, India and Australia. These countries have very established medical curriculums and are known for their high standards. Russia remain a relative unknown until of late.

Despite the prestige surrounding these foreign medical schools, ultimately it is the local universities that are in the best position to produce medical graduates for this country. They should be more in tune with local disease demographics. For example, some medical schools in the western hemisphere hardly stress on treatment of tropical diseases like dengue. It is because it is practically non-existent in these countries. However, the training of proper skills especially history taking and physical examinations is in my opinion inferior to foreign institutions, where less emphasis is put on these "soft" skills.

Despite our claims that foreign institutions should adhere to strict guidelines set by the MMC, it is local institutions that flout these rulings. The quality of the curriculum is deteriorating. It is mainly due to the reluctance of those in power to change things. They are pretty much happy with the status quo. Their reasoning is that it has produced medical graduates before and therefore why should there be a change. Medicine is a dynamic field and the curriculum has to change with the times. Gone are the days when medical schools are all about digesting facts. There is a trend towards earlier clinical exposure. This is believed to enhance one's skill in learning and communication with patients. Unfortunately, this trend has not caught on in many major local institutions. As mentioned in my previous blog, even final year medical students do not spend enough time in the wards.

Local universities must change if they are to challenge the standards of other universities. There has to be emphasis on earlier clinical and research exposure. We have to encourage students to think critically not just being spoonfed with medical facts. We are lagging behind and unfortunately spiralling downwards. It is time to acknowledge the existence of and end medieval favouritism practices. This will only deepen the grave that we have dug ourselves.