More than 200 medical students have written to the Minister for Further and Higher Education outlining 'extreme' concern at the financial barriers to becoming a doctor in Ireland.
More than 200 medical students have written to the Minister for Further and Higher Education outlining"extreme" concern at the financial barriers to becoming a doctor in Ireland.
Uniquely, students on this kind of postgraduate programme are not eligible for any support under the State's SUSI grant system. Looking for"decisive and creative" Government-led action they say otherwise"we foresee a future in which medicine in Ireland is once again a profession that is reserved only for the select and fortunate few, and many amazing potential doctors are excluded solely as a result of socio-economic factors beyond their control".
But RTÉ News has spoken to a number of GEM students who are struggling financially, including one who feels he may have to drop out after just one year as a result. Another first year student, Rebecca Byrne, also worked for a year to save money towards her four-year GEM course. The only reason she can afford to do the course is because her parents are able to give her some level of financial support.
"Students have to have access to a six-figure sum to be able to afford this education," says Chair of the Irish Medical Organisation’s Non Consultant Hospital Doctors committee, Dr Rachel McNamara.The IMO says the supply of doctors is being hugely affected by this. It says over one third of current new entrants to medicine are coming from the GEM programmes.
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