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Vol.14
Narrowing the regional disparities
in medical service. |
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The collapse of regional
medical services has become a
concern in the recent years,
and the lack of paediatricians,
obstetricians and
gynaecologists nationwide has
also become an issue.
From time to time, doctors who
devote themselves to providing
medical care in underpopulated
regions and “genkai shuraku”
(super-depopulated communities
where residents of 65years and
older comprise more than half
the population) are reported on
the television or in
newspapers. Every time I see
them, I am impressed by them
and am filled with respect for
them. However, I must say that
such reports themselves are
unnatural.
Here is an
idea.
Among the
applicants for medical
faculties of national and
public universities across
Japan, those who desire to work
in regional areas are exempt to
pay all entrance or tuition
fees. In return, they are
obliged to work in hospitals
and clinics in regional areas
for at least 15 years after
graduation, and failure to do
so will result in repaying the
university fees. In addition,
the entrance and tuition fees
of students who apply for
paediatric or obstetrics and
gynaecology departments will be
halved, and this will need to
be paid back if these
conditions are not met.
Once this system is
implemented, the number of
exempt students can be altered
accordingly, as this unbalanced
situation is gradually
improved.
Even an
outsider like me can understand
that it costs a considerable
amount of money in order to
train somebody to become a
full-fledged doctor. This is
why the central or local
governments should prepare the
path to become a doctor for
those who are highly talented
and enthusiastic, but do not
have the financial support, and
provide in-depth education of
not only medical knowledge, but
also emphasising the
humanitarian aspect of medical
care.
Is such a system
too good to be true?
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