Last week Malaysian students studying medicine in Russia been hit by a hate wave by Malaysians when Berita Harian published it's front page about how incompetent overseas medical graduates are, especially those from graduated from Russia.
This news is not new though. I've been hitting with glares and cringes when asked, from which university, and I answered "Russia" since I did my practicals in the government hospital during my 2nd year and 3rd year summer break. But it has never been published to the whole nation before, it has been kept within the medical community for more than 6 years.
I think some HOs made an MO damn pissed off, therefor, he made a decision to published it in local newspaper so that the whole world would know about it. Stupid mistake I'd say. He/She made the whole nation afraid of going to the hospitals. As if we don't have that problem already.
Every year, there are more and more students coming in to study medicine here. The question is - Who approved them? Who approved their NOCs? Who approved those agents?. Why is the government keep sending students here? We're just trying to live our dreams and/or our parents dreams to become a doctor. Why are we getting all the blame? Why isn't the government getting these blames as well?
On the paper, they said, the russian graduates don't even know basic skills like how to measure BP, pulse and place the stethoscope on the chest. Really? I've been learning those since I was in 3rd year. If most of us don't know how, why are most russian graduates survived their housemanship and already became MOs and specialists? Yes, I admit we are lacking in practical skills. Even now, I still have trouble taking blood and I don't know how to put an IV line. Because for Russian students, they learn theoretical stuffs for 6 years and 1 year for their practicals only. As for foreigners, we study for 6 years minus the 1 year of practical training and can only learn them when we are doing our housemanship. So please forgive us for our lack of practical ability, but to say that we cause the increase of death, isn't that a little over-exaggerated? HOs can't cause death, because if we do, our licences will be annulled because we're still on probations.
And we are learning everything in Russian language, with russian classifications. So it'll take some time to know the shortforms in the patients history in local hospitals or the terms from the English textbooks. Life is about learning, and learning is never ending.
But to say that we never learn anything here is way out of line. I read, a parent complaining, according to his son that we don't learn anything here, that the lecturers won't let us see patients and they refused to teach in English because they're so proud of their language. Please realise where you are dear sir. You are not in England or Canada or Australia or US. I went to Beijing and NO ONE knew English too. Plus Russia isn't really a tourist centre, so you can't blame them for not knowing English and what is wrong with being proud with your language? And I do get to see patients. How do you expect me to write my patient's case report if I can't see the patient? He even said that Russia's medicine is 10 years behind. erm.. As far as I know, Russian medicine has existed way before Hang Tuah was born. Learn their history, do your research before making assumptions.
I hope to be a good doctor if not great. I still have so much to learn, but please don't judge me just because of where I've been. If my seniors can do it, why can't I, right? =)
