SENIOR doctors can be directed to Covid-19 wards where more attention is required if medical students are allowed to help.
This, in turn, would help medical graduates who are waiting for their posting become accustomed to the job scope. It would also enable us to carry out our duties more effectively once we start serving in hospitals.
By allowing us to help now, we will learn how to work in the wards, get used to the system from the get-go and accustom ourselves to the workload of a house officer.
I would be more than happy to start work in the wards immediately if given a chance to help in this pandemic.” - John Chai, 26“
LOOKING at the Covid-19 situation in our country and around the world, we cannot ignore the fact that things are not rosy.
The Health Ministry needs all the manpower it can get to manage the situation and what better way to do so than to rope in final year medical students and housemen? We are going to enter the medical field eventually so why not let us do so sooner?
Our experience and skills will be enhanced and we can get a birds eye view on what to expect when we eventually start work at the hospitals.
There may be concerns about us being exposed to the virus but we were already prepared for hazards like these the day we signed up for medical school.
I think it’s good for housemen, final year medical students and trainee nurses to be included in the battle against Covid-19. Not only will we be better equipped when we go for our posting, but we can help lessen the heavy burden of our healthcare workers.”
- A.Kumar, 25