Where now for Postgraduate International Health Training?

Dr Fred Martineau, Alma Mata Working Group

We are at a crucial turning point in the way postgraduate medical training is structured. Like it or not, MMC is here to stay. What does this mean for those of us who want to work in international health?

The popularity of our conferences and other activities attests to the growing interest in international health. Yet this interest remains to be reflected in dedicated international health training programmes for doctors within the UK. We believe that this is an area in serious need of improvement.

Alma Mata have been working with a number of individuals and organisations to address this situation. Our recent joint submission to the Tooke inquiry and our input into the Crisp report are two of the ways in which we have raised our concerns. However, there needs to be a concerted effort to see that our concerns are listened to, and our recommendations put in place.
The conference will conclude with a session dedicated to discussing the future of International Health training in the UK.

Along with the 200+ trainees attending the conference and the organisations present at the careers fair, we will invite representatives from all the Royal Colleges and other notable international health experts to participate in a roundtable discussion on how to take international health training forward. The emphasis of the discussion will be on producing a practical action plan to ensure that MMC allows and supports doctors willing to help improve global health.

If you would like to know more about our plans, or would like to get involved with this initiative, please contact Fred.