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The Medical Council is adding its voice to the chorus of concern over the closed-door discussions at the University of Otago medical school about limiting the number of special entry students.
Groups representing the country’s medical school student population have been trying to secure a meeting with the university’s leader to urge against the changes discussed in a selection policy document.
The document talks about limiting the number of special category students (Maori, Pasifika, rural, refugee, and low socioeconomic status) who can be selected in medical school.
While there is a limit on the total number of students who can study medicine, there is currently no restriction on the proportion that comes from special categories.
Of the 202 students who were awarded entry to the 2019 first-year health sciences course, 120 came from special categories.
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Speaking that the policy, which aims to promote diversity in the health sector, was unfair came “out of nowhere,” says the student body.
The Medical Council and Race Relations Commissioner have joined Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Chief Health Officer Ashley Bloomfield in emphasizing that the sooner the medical workforce reflects the communities it serves, the better.
Otago University Medical Students Association (OUMSA) President Anu Kaw says a group of 11 student bodies, including the New Zealand Medical Students Association, oppose stunting of the Mirror on Society’s “incredibly successful” selection policy.
Kevanda Herath / Things
University of Otago Vice Chancellor Harlene Hayne says she is willing to meet with medical school students, even though they are having trouble getting a meeting with her.
The Mirror on Society pathway requires a minimum GPA of 70 percent for students in special categories to be selected for medicine. Last year, students in the general category needed a 94 percent grade point average.
Kaw said there were certain professional competencies and standards set by the Medical Council, and that limiting the policy would jeopardize the university’s commitment to equity in the healthcare workforce.
Diversity was well celebrated within the medical school, and students learning from each other’s cultures was an important component of their studies, Kaw said.
“We are still looking for answers about what has caused this. It came out of nowhere. “
SWIMMING POOL
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Chief Health Officer Dr. Ashley Bloomfield offer support for the Otago School of Medicine’s admissions policy.
She expected students to be consulted, “since it affects us directly.”
The student body had met with the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and the Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences and was looking forward to meeting Vice Chancellor Harlene Hayne.
A spokeswoman for the University of Otago said Hayne was happy to meet with the students.
The recruitment policy was introduced in 2012 to remedy the “huge under-representation of some key populations in New Zealand’s health workforce”.
It had been successful, the university remained committed to the policy, and the document presented to the admissions committee in August was an initial discussion paper “not a proposal for change.”
The-Southland-Times
Professor of Public Health at Kōhatu – Hauora Māori Center – Peter Crampton, former dean of the Otago School of Medicine.
Professor Peter Crampton, one of the architects of the policy, said the discussion came at a time when “considerably larger numbers” of Maori and Pasifika doctors were needed to reflect society.
He urged the university to be more transparent and act in good faith when consulting with the Maori as part of Te Tiriti or Waitangi.
“I am deeply confused and very concerned that the fact of the policy’s success appears to be a reason to push for a policy review.”
New Zealand Medical Council President Curtis Walker urged the medical school to “carefully consider the impact” on patient care and health equity for the Maori and Pasifika communities before making any final decisions.
The council was a strong supporter of the medical school selection policy, which linked well to the council’s key strategic goal of improving cultural safety and equity in patient health.
“We believe it is important that the medical workforce reflects the communities it serves, and that the sooner it happens the better.”
Chris Skelton / Stuff
Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon urges the University of Otago not to thwart progress by limiting the much needed Maori and Pasifika medical students in the health sector.
Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon urged the university to reconsider the breakthrough in ruin and go one step further to ensure the policy is based on tiriti.
He believed that it might be time to better fund medical schools to adapt to an increasingly ill Maori and Pasifika population.
Just a decade ago, only 7.6 percent of new national medical students in Otago identified as Maori and 2.7 percent as Pasifika. This has been reflected in the current medical workforce, where only 3.4% are Maori and 1.8% Pasifika.
The 2020 class of first-year medical students includes: Maori (23 percent), Pasifika (9 percent), rural (14 percent), low socioeconomic (4 percent), and refugees (1 percent).
Christchurch Medical Students Association, Te Oranga, New Zealand Maori Medical Students Association, Te Oranga Ki Te Otago (TOKO Otago University Maori Medical Students Association), Health Professionals Student Association of the Pacific Islands, Wellington Health Professionals Student Association, Aotearoa Rural Health Students, University of Otago The Pacific Islands Student Association and Te Roopu Maori are also part of the collective of students who oppose any change in politics.
