19. Особенности медицинского образования в разных странах



 

-          Hello, haven’t seen you for ages. What are you doing?

-          I’m trying to find some information about medical education in different countries, for example in the USA and the UK. I’m very interested in it.

-          So what have you leant about training of doctors in the USA? I’ve heard that after finishing his primary school and secondary studies at the age of 18, the candidate for a medical school must complete at least three years of higher education in a college or university.

-           Yes, this period is called the pre-medical phase. When a student has a completed pre-medial studies, he applies to a medical school. In most medical schools candidates are required to pass the admission test, which lasts about 8 hours over a one-day period.

-          I know that the curriculum of medical schools in the USA doesn’t greatly differ from the curriculum in our medical institutes.  The basic sciences are taught largely during the first too years. The curriculum of the final two years includes clinical subjects.

-          You’re right. I just want to add, that the students do their practicum at teaching hospitals affiliated to the medical schools. At the end of four years all students receive the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. Then they must work for on year as interns.

-          What do you know about medical education in Great Britain?

-          In GB physicians are trained in either medical schools or faculties of Universities. Entry to a high school is highly competitive and candidates must pass entrance examinations to enter there. For entrance to a faculty of medicine or a medical school, it is required that he subjects of chemistry, physics and biology or mathematics should be taken at the advanced level.

-          I know that academic year is divided into 3 terms, each of 10-11 weeks’ duration. Two pre-clinical years are occupied by human anatomy and biology, physiology and biochemistry. Latin is not taught in all medical schools. Do you know anything about the examinations?

-          Well, as in our county examinations are held at the end of each term, that is three times a year. Most of the exams are written. Three years are spent in clinical studies to obtain degrees of bachelor of Medicine and bachelor of surgery. They give the right o register as a medical practitioner.

-          Sorry for interrupting you, but I’ve heard that in Australia various models of medical education exist. Undergraduate-entry program typically lasts 5-6 years. Applicants are usually assessed by a combination of high school leaving certificate performance score and interview. Graduate medical programs typically last 4 years, and require the entrant to have attained a previous bachelor degree qualification.

-          I guess that depending on the program undertaken, students graduate as Bachelor of Medicine / Bachelor of Surgery, or simply a Bachelor of Medicine, in addition to any other degrees attained during study.

-          I think you are right. Sorry, but I must go now. Bye.

-          Bye.

Проблемы медицинского образования в России в контексте программы совершенствования образования



 

-          Good afternoon, Dr. Ivanov. I’m a correspondent of the magazine “Health”. Would tell our readers about the principles of medical education in our country?

-          Sure, with great pleasure. I’ll be happy to answer all your questions. First of all, I’d like to say that any citizen of our country who has a complete secondary education may apply to medical school.

-          As far as I know all the applicants are required to take entrance competitive examinations in biology, chemistry and the Russian language. So how are your students instructed?

-          The instructions are given through lectures, group instructions and practical classes. At the end of each term students have to pass a number of examinations, which help to check their knowledge.

-          If I’m not mistaken, the course of study lasts for 6 years. During the first two years students study physics, chemistry, human anatomy, physiology, histology, Latin, a foreign language and philosophy. So when do the students start to study clinical subjects, such as surgery, gynecology, obstetrics, infectious diseases, all branches of internal medicine, etc.

-          Well, all these subjects are studied beginning with the third year. Students also take practical courses. Working as doctors’ assistants they master a definite number of medical and diagnostic procedures.

-          How does the training course at a medical school end? Am I right saying that graduate medical students take final state examinations, after which they receive their diploma, certifying them as doctors?  What further opportunities do your students have?

-          Well, having received a diploma they may either take a one-year internship course qualifying them as general health care specialists, or a two-year residency course qualifying them as narrow specialists.

-          What problems does medical education of students face nowadays?

-          It’s not a big secret; the main problem is insufficiency in financing. Sometimes we do not have enough resources to buy new equipment. But to tell you the truth, within the program of education improvement, these problems are going to be sold pretty soon. 

-          Dr. Ivanov, thank you very much for the talk

-          You are most welcome.