Quality assurance in the training of primary health care doctors and specialists.
Training of doctors is expensive as it requires at least six years of supervision while on the job plus sponsorship for courses, examination and even overseas training. Quality assurance of training is essential to ensure maximum throughput of the required number of specialist doctors for national needs. First, there is competition for training posts at basic (three years) and advanced (three years) levels. Basic training prepares doctors to sit and pass the relevant postgraduate examinations. Fifty percent of each cohort of doctors are selected as Basic Trainees but 40% finally complete Advanced Training. Second, trainees complete a training programme under supervision and record their clinical and learning experience in log books which are checked and certified by appointed supervisors who are consultants in government and restructured hospitals or institutions. Third, supervisor reports are submitted six monthly to the respective bodies: Academy of Medicine, School of Postgraduate Medical Studies or the Ministry of Health and Training Committees which vet these with the aim to continue the training or to terminate the training. Fourth, Parts I and II of relevant examinations must be passed within stipulated time frames. By these measures, there is quality assurance in the postgraduate training of our doctors.
Chee
Y C
YC
Ministry of Health, Singapore.
D003253:Consultants; D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005544:Forecasting; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006280:Health Workforce; D006801:Humans; D008511:Medicine / Q000639:trends; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education* / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000639:trends; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012846:Singapore; D013038:Specialization; D013337:Students, Medical