By The Petrie-Flom Center
Al Roth has come across a troubling phenomenon in Australia, where medical internships are in short supply.
Medical students languish in a critical condition
The Australian Medical Students’ Association estimates almost 500 students will miss out on an internship next year because of insufficient places. Under the internship system students must work for a year under supervision in a hospital before they can work as doctors. … Australian Medical Association president Steve Hambleton points to the curious situation where the nation has a shortage of doctors, yet there are too few internships. … The placement system has fallen apart, he says, because the federal government regulates the number of students universities can enrol while its state counterparts oversee the provision of internships.
