NZMA Supports Auckland Medical Students' Concerns
New Zealand Medical Association
The New Zealand Medical
Association strongly supports the concerns
of medical
students in Auckland and Dunedin who are holding
rallies
today.
"Students from Auckland Medical School
could face fees of more
than $10,000 next year," said Dr
John Adams, Acting Chairman
of the NZMA. Students from
Otago paid more than $9000 this year.
"High fees, combined
with a course length of six years and an
inflexible loan
scheme, means these students will face extreme
financial
hardship and potentially graduate with debts the size
of
home mortgages," Dr Adams said.
"Many may choose to work
in Australia or other countries where
they can earn more
money after they graduate. This is a huge
waste of New
Zealand taxpayers' funds."
Doctors may focus their career
pathways on higher income specialties.
Fewer graduates
may choose lower paid specialties, such as
general
practice. Existing problems, such as difficulties
employing rural
GPs, will worsen.
Long-term, potential
students may choose not to take up medicine
because of
the financial hardship, Dr Adams said. Students
may
choose other professional courses, such as law or
accounting,
which are shorter and cheaper and have
similar earning prospects
to medicine.
"The financial
burden will make it even more difficult for students
from
lower socio-economic backgrounds, who are vitally
important
as their communities tend to have the highest
health needs,"
Dr Adams said.
"Ultimately, the cost of
health care to New Zealanders is likely
to increase
long-term as students pay back their huge loans."
The NZMA
hopes the political parties take note of the
students'
concerns and implement positive changes.