Medical Training Board Unfit to Practice
Lack of sector involvement will obstruct meaningful development
The announcement of the Medical Training Board today fails to include representation of learners.
This move goes against current government priorities, which acknowledge learners as the prime stakeholders in tertiary
education. “That makes the make-up of this Board inadequate,” says Mr Nick Fancourt, President of the New Zealand
Medical Students’ Association.
The Training Board is meant to be a cross-sector group linking the efforts of the Tertiary Education Commission and the
Ministry of Health in the review of medical training. “But this group fails to achieve that aim, devoid of involvement
from key stakeholders.”
The absence of representation runs counter to the board’s role of ensuring appropriate future training pathways for New
Zealand’s doctors. Failure to acknowledge the place of learners, prevents meaningful and effective decision-making
processes. “The Tertiary Education and Health sectors both face major challenges in ever changing environments. Learner
representation is critical to ensuring the development of our training is appropriate and future focused.”
Medical students have often proven their worth as valuable stakeholders. “We have lead the only review on the impact of
student debt for doctors, provided well-received submissions to many groups including the Workforce Taskforce, and are
currently running the first ever critical review of the Trainee Intern (6th year) of medical studies,” says Mr Fancourt.
ENDS