Entry assessment The proposed new system of assessment for entry into the medical profession fails to address the basic problem of a lack of places on medicine courses, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has warned.
Dr James Reilly, president of the IMO, said it welcomed the planned changes because they addressed the issue of the suitability of individual candidates to become doctors.
However, he warned that they would do little to address the difficulties faced by Irish students competing for a small number of places at colleges here.
"The points system is failing us at the moment. But, primarily, there are not enough places. The current figure of around 310/320 is insufficient to meet our need," he said. "I would fear that [the plans\] fail to address this basic issue," he added.
Under the new plans, recently presented to the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, by a high-level working group, students will no longer be assessed for medical school entry on the basis of their Leaving Certificate results alone.
Instead, any student reaching the minimum requirement of 450 points for medicine will sit an aptitude test to determine whether they are suitable to become doctors. As part of the proposed changes, a graduate entry scheme will also be introduced which will eventually allow graduates from all disciplines to study to become doctors.
There are currently around 800 places available on medicine courses, according to Dr Reilly. But up to 500 of these are reserved for lucrative international students, who pay high fees to study here.
At a time when it is estimated that an additional 500 GPs are needed to cover the shortfall in Ireland, this means the education system is failing to train sufficient students to meet its needs.
"Five hundred places are being used to educate non-EU graduates," Dr Reilly said.
"There are a lot of positives to be had from the opportunities this offers for Irish students to experience different cultures. But there needs to be an acknowledgement by the Government that it is not meeting its obligations," he said.
"There has historically been a perception that medicine is a closed shop. But it is nothing to do with doctors. There are not enough places," he said.
"The current system is failing both Irish students and society's need for well-trained students. And we need to do something about this as soon as possible."
Dr Eamonn Shanahan, chairman of the Irish College of General Practititioners, said it supported the proposed changes to the system of entry, but it would be reserving judgment on the whole process unless "substantial investment" was also put into medical education here.
"While we welcome the changes, it has to be added to a substantial increase in the number of places," he said. "Right now, we are not producing anyway near enough doctors."