SADAMSA

South African Doctors and Medical Students Association

Road of action

Attorneys at law were consulted on the 3rd of March 1997 and a letter has been addressed by them to the Minister of Health and the President of the Medical Council where certain questions are posed concerning the reasons and facts that led to this decision. The motivation for the proposed change in the law and how it will be implemented were also questioned. If a satisfactory reply is not received by the 31st of May 1997 the attorneys have instructions to proceed with court action in order to protect the rights and interests of the medical students and interns affected by this decision.

Who can join SADAMSA?

1. Medical students (1st to 6th year)
2. Interns (1997)
3. All people affected by the proposed system of vocational training

SADAMSA is strongly opposed to any form of compulsory vocational training as this decision (which has obvious and far-reaching effects on career planning and prospects), was taken without the people involved being afforded and opportunity to make representations and by the fact that it is intended to implement this decision upon notice which is clearly inadequate.

The reasons why the current form of vocational training is opposed:

• We started with the reasonable expectation of gaining full registration after studying for seven years.
• The way in which vocational training was forced upon us, without adequate consultation.
• The manner of evaluation and the possibility of lengthening the period of vocational training if evaluation is inadequate according to a very subjective set of criterion.
• The sudden idea of incompetence, although we have been accepted with open arms overseas.
• The ambiguity of being evaluated for full registration by persons with incomplete registration.
• Freedom of choice being discredited by limiting choice of hospital to choice of province only.
• The presence of an adequate infrastructure to accommodate the implementation of such a scheme.
• The discrimination against profession.

SADAMSA is not opposed to the idea of vocational training but strongly opposed to the way of implementation of the current form of vocational training.

It is a case of principle - not being consulted before the commencing of studies.

© 1997 mloots@medic.up.ac.za