BMJ 2007;334:595-596 (24 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.39147.396285.BE

A recent BMJ editorial questions whether MMC will unintentionally stop UK doctors from working in international health and development.

BMJ Editorial on global health partnerships: Changes to training and revalidation may impede the UK's support of health care in developing countries

Christopher J M Whitty, Chair of science, education, and training committee, Linda Doull, director of health and policy, Behzad Nadjm, UK specialist registrar

To view the full article follow the link:

These interviews relay the experiences civil society partners who tell their stories of the use of research-based evidence in development policy. A key part of the Research and Policy in Development Programme's work is to make practical tools and experience available. Short interviews have been conducted and filmed with policy makers, practitioners and CSO staff and members to use on project websites and in presentations.

The interviews are designed to elicit personal experiences of the use of research-based evidence in development policy, focusing on the following issues:

§ What is your experience of using research-based evidence to influence development policy?

Education and Training: Grants and Funding Directory of Grants and Fellowships in the Global Health Sciences

Website: http://www.fic.nih.gov/funding/directory_fellowships.htm

A comprehensive compilation of international funding opportunities in biomedical and behavioral research published by the Fogarty International Center,
part of the National Institutes of Health. NIH Publication 06-3027, February 2006

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Please find attached the latest Alma Mata Newsletter.

Gaz Lewis looks at the how the media impact on recognition of global health problems, how can we manage this important vehicle for health promotion?

Adam Musgrove, who works for Practical Action, raises issues surrounding indoor smoke, a large course of morbidity and mortality in the less developed world.

We round up with an article covering the Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene and the latest news form Medact and Medsin.

Many thanks for your continued support.

The reciprocal benefits of sustained partnerships between health professionals in developed countries and their counterparts in poorer countries are considerable, a conference in London last week was told. Such partnerships may also help stem the migration of health professionals from poor countries—sub-Saharan Africa in particular, where a shortage of health workers is contributing to the crisis in health.

The conference, which was held at the Royal Society of Medicine and which followed the simultaneous launch in London and Lusaka of the World Health Organization’s 2006 report Working Together for Health (BMJ 2006;332:809, 8 Apr), explored these claims and discussed the links fostered by the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) International.

Sudden changes in UK immigration law, already in the news for their impact on overseas doctors, have also forced hundreds of students at UK medical schools to reevaluate their career plans. With immediate effect from April 3rd 2006 all doctors who are not residents of EEA countries have only been able to apply for training posts if their potential employer can prove that there are no EEA doctors available for that post. Importantly, this ruling also affects doctors from overseas who graduated from one of the UK's 31 medical schools and completed the 2 year foundation programme.

Relief Work in Pakistan

In December 2005, six University of Leeds medical students spent two weeks providing assistance at a hospital in Kashmir, Pakistan which was severely affected by the earthquake of the 8th October that year. Danni Kirwan writes about her experiences there.

On December 28th 2005, a team of six fourth-year medical students from Leeds University went to Bagh in the Kashmir region of Pakistan to provide medical assistance to earthquake survivors. Although we only had two weeks due to educational commitments, and were inexperienced and underqualified, we did have some medical knowledge and monetary resources and were willing to work hard.

Ten Year Plans

With Alma Mata’s membership now 400-strong, it is now possible to use our collective weight as an advocacy tool for pushing global health into the new foundation programmes. As Rebecca Hope and Fred Martineau discussed in their Crossing Borders series, the new structure presents an opportunity to create exciting and innovative posts within the NHS career structure. But before the global health offensive can be launched, and in the spirit of our open and democratic organisation, members of the working group currently in Foundation Year 1 and those in the final stages of undergraduate study, were invited to complete the phrase “when I grow up I want to be…”.

Fifteen fascinating contributions later and we are now in a much stronger position to answer the question of what is a career in global health. This qualitative data trawl is planned as a precursor to a more comprehensive survey of all our members (now online) in due course, and allows common themes to be explored at that time. So (I hear you ask) what did they say?

Well, as if it needed saying, they are quite an ambitious bunch! Despite widely different and imaginative plans, patterns emerged and many ideas overlapped.

New training programmes for junior doctors in global health are becoming more possible

The Treatment Action Campaign are looking for a development officer/fund manager to be based in SA.

What follows is a short blurb and the ad:

“We are struggling to recruit a development officer/fundraiser. We are therefore re-advertising,and headhunting for good candidates to apply. We are also looking beyond South Africa for good people, who would be willing to come and
work for TAC, from either Cape Town or Jo'burg).

They should have fundraising experience and be good at communicating and proposal writing, and should be very hardworking. They also need to a have a good knowledge of the donor environment in South Africa and overseas."

KNOW ABOUT CAMPAIGNING AND HIV/AIDS?

We are looking for a dymanic and energetic person, who could work in the UK Consortium Office, to cover the Stop AIDS Campaign Manager's post for a minimum period of 3-4 months as a secondment from a membership organisation or on a temporary contract. As you know Kirsty McNeill, present SAC Manager, is leaving the UK Consortium on January 20th to work for DATA. Meanwhile we shall be reviewing the campaign, joining in the Consortium strategic planning process and recruiting a new SAC Manager.

After an extra special year in 2005, where the Stop AIDS Campaign progressed massively, we don't want to lose the momentum or political contacts that have been made. Recruitment processes take time and we need someone to hold the reins for the time being. Ideally we are looking for someone who is already involved in the Campaign, but not necessarily. We need someone with experience in campaigning, who has the ability to lead, follow-up contacts and work with members in running the lobbying and raising awareness aspects of the campaign. The main areas of responsibility include organising activities, development and managing of external relations along with the Coordinators, media liaison and coordination of the campaign membership.