Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has urged the government to explain why it has opted to slashing the number of spots offered for medical programmes at public universities, instead of private institutions to address the glut of doctors.

She says that this is because public institutions offer opportunities to students who are not well off to pursue their dreams as the fees are lower than private institutions.

In a statement today, Kok (left) observed that the intake of new medical students at public universities has been reduced from 983 students for the academic year of 2011/2012 to only 699 in 2013/2014.
 
“Is it fair that the spots in public medical schools are getting limited and not the private medical schools? Or have instructions already been sent out to these private medical schools too?” she asked.

“Many students have chosen to study STPM and matriculation as pathway to medical programs at public universities for the sole reason that they will not be able to afford the exorbitant tuition fees charged by private universities.”

Kok, who is also DAP vice chairperson, said medical student intakes for public universities were reduced from 983 students for academic year 2011/2012 to only 699 this year.

She said that as at Oct 2013, there were a total 33 medical schools, most of them private universities.

“The key question is why the government have been silent about the decision and and reasons on this annual reduction of medical places at public universities?” asked Kok, also referring to the fact that no notice was given about the drastic cuts in number of medical places offered.

Over-flooded with doctors

She was responding to Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan on Aug 19 said that the country is “over-flooded” by medical graduates seeking employment and the cuts were made to control the flood of new doctors in the market.
 
Kamalanathan (right) earlier revealed that a total of 1,163 students with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.00 had applied to do medicine in public medical schools, however only 418 were given offers.
 
The selection, he said, was based on interview results.

He was responding to a complaint by STPM top scorer Ng Yi Ling, who applied to study medicine, dentistry or pharmacy, but was offered nursing instead.
 
She was among 379 students obtained straight A (CGPA 4.0) in their STPM nationwide after sitting for their examinations last year.

Public universities accept applications by STPM or matriculation graduates.

Matriculation is a pre-university course only open to bumiputera students, while STPM is open to all.