AMSA: Physician Assistant Courses May Compromise Medical Education Standards, Australia

Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 13 Dec 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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The Australian Medical Students' Association (AMSA) welcomed the emerging public debate over the role of Physician Assistants within the rural Australian health workforce.

AMSA National President Mr. Rob Mitchell said, "as the peak organisation representing Australia's 12,000 medical students, AMSA has grave concerns that the introduction of Physician Assistant courses will compromise clinical training and vital learning opportunities for future doctors.

"Australia will see a doubling in the number of medical students over the next three to five years. Currently there are not enough clinical training placements for the expected number of students and junior doctors. If universities undertake to train a new field of professionals whose education requires the same physical and human resources, then we will no doubt compromise the quality of medical training," said Mr. Mitchell.

"We must plan now for the influx of medical students. We must expand clinical training environments to include more broadly the community care and private hospital sectors. We must concentrate on creating programs that encourage young doctors to work in rural and regional Australia.

"But we should not, for the time being, look at creating new roles that will utilise training infrastructure and resources that are already stretched to capacity."

"AMSA's concern is with the integrity of medical education. If we are to maintain the high standards of health care Australians have come to expect, then we must not jeopardise the quality of undergraduate medical training. Physician Assistant training courses may do just that."

Australian Medical Students' Association

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