This article was exclusively written for the Sting by Mr. Ahmad Abbadi, a medical student at Jordan University of Science and Technology. He is also affiliated to the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA). However, the opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.
As a sixth year medical student drawing closer to graduation, I feel excited and proud that I got close to the end of the first volume of a physician’s journey, but at the same time I am reminded of the reality of low employment rates, and limited residency spots that does not qualify to accommodate more than 10% of the current Medical Doctors graduates in Jordan.
This sometimes takes all my joy away, because after spending so many years studying and working hard, I might end up without a residency, and I am not even going through taking my preferred choice of residency in Urology! This puts much stress on medical students, and pushes them to seek other options in hope to secure residency spots with good income. Sadly, the challenge might not seem as easy as it looks, because every country has its own system, with different requirements including proficiency of its language.
What stands to be even a greater challenge is that non-Jordanians cannot secure paid residency spots; they are not paid for their work during residency. This proves to be a huge obstacle for many graduates, and forces them to seek different options rather than staying in Jordan.
Medical Students sometimes look for different specialties that are not available in their home country, and this also contribute to emigration of medical doctors, as you might feel you belong in a certain place, doing the things that you love and enjoy rather than forcing yourself into work you do not like. This can be clearly evident when applying to fellowship spots, as they are very limited in Jordan, and only few sub-specialties are available.
The level of education and the status gained from doing residency and fellowship in certain hospitals can also be a drive for certain students to work hard to attend these programs, as to some these are considered essential goals in their career.
By having a small time to reflect on the current situation, one can notice that limitation in opportunities can be a dramatic contributing factor. Although the world is in need for more physicians, we should not ignore the factors that contribute to the satisfaction of physicians, and advancement in their career.
In closing, I believe that the corner stone to resolve the issue is to crystalize the efforts into appropriate action to find cost effective solutions that are applicable in the shortest time possible. These approaches should also be considerate to the financial, political and cultural status of each country.
About the author:
Ahmad Abbadi is a 6th year medical student at Jordan University of Science and Technology. Currently, the Standing Committee on Public Health Regional Assistant for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (SCOPHRA for the EMR) at IFMSA. 23 years old, lives in Jordan, and Public Health advocate.
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