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Rural medical school plan receives boost from Thai visit

December 01, 2004

victor_minicielo_thumb.jpgPlans by the University of New England to build a rural medical school will receive a boost with a visit by a senior delegation of Thai health officials later this week.
While here, the 14-strong delegation will discuss how a rural medical program in Thailand has successfully staved the haemorrhage of doctors and health workers from the country to the city, a major challenge also facing rural Australia.
The delegation will also forge a working relationship in which UNE will help train health professionals from Thailand.
The visit has been organised by Professor Victor Minichiello, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Health and Professional Studies (pictured) and his colleague, David Briggs, who co-ordinates the health service management program at UNE.

Said Professor Minichiello: “One of the major challenges facing rural Australia and widely recognised and spoken about by governments, the medical profession and consumers is the lack of general practitioners and specialists found in rural communities.
“We have been holding formal discussions with the Federal Government and two other regional universities in country New South Wales with the aim of developing a rural medical school that will solve the medical labour force shortage in rural Australia.”
Professor Minichiello said he remained convinced the way to keep doctors and health practitioners in the country was to train them at a rural institution and so set about finding whether this had indeed been done.
“We have just visited Thailand’s Naresuan University, a rural university not unlike UNE,“ Professor Minichiello said.
“With the assistance of the Prime Minister of Thailand, Naresuan University
has developed a successful rural medical program that is responsible for training and recruiting doctors in rural Thailand communities.
“This inspiring program has gained the widespread support of the medical community, the government and, more importantly, the public who now have access to doctors in their communities.”
Professor Mundhon Sanguasermsri, the President of Naresuan University, said: “The success of this program is the result of the Ministry of Public Health and the University working hand in hand in helping our country to produce the much needed fine doctors for rural areas. “
This Friday, December 3, the Thais’ hospitality will be reciprocated when the delegation, consisting of academics from Naresuan University, senior officials from Thailand’s
Health Ministry and its Government will visit Tamworth and Armidale to discuss and share experiences about rural health. Discussions will also be held to develop a number of short courses available at UNE for Thai public health professionals, Professor Minichiello said.
Senator Sandy MacDonald will represent Mr John Anderson, Federal Minister of Transport and Regional Services and Deputy Prime Minister and a civic reception will be held in Tamworth.
MEDIA ALERT! A media conference will be held at UNE Access Centre, Tamworth, on Friday December 3 with Professor Minichiello, Senator Sandy MacDonald and the Thai delegation.For more information phone Professor Minichiello on 6773 3862 or 0409 981288 or Lydia Roberts on 6773 2779.


Posted by Lydia Roberts at December 1, 2004 05:07 PM