Ministers 'Must Address Fees Fall-Out': BMA

Medical student leaders have called on ministers to take urgent action to address the fall-out from their decision to allow universities and medical schools to increase tuition fees, which was passed in Parliament. 



Karin Purshouse, Chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) Medical Student Committee said:

 "The decision to allow medical schools to increase tuition fees to as much as £9,000 is a damaging move that will place substantial financial barriers in front of the next generation of students from low and middle income families.



"The BMA estimates that those thinking of studying medicine in the future could leave medical school with at least £70,000 worth of debt. This will place a huge burden not just on the graduate but also on their families, who already have to provide £16,000 in support over the course of a five-year medical degree. 



"In order to address the impact of the decision, the government must do more to help those from low and middle income backgrounds who want to go to university.



"Medicine in particular must be singled out for specific action given the length of the course and its higher cost, and its importance in providing the next generation of doctors for our NHS. Medical education already has a poor track record in recruiting those from the lowest incomes groups, with just one in seven successful applicants to medical school coming from these backgrounds.



"We will be keen to hear from and talk to ministers about how they intend to tackle these urgent problems. The announcements this week on income thresholds and tuition free years for some groups require substantial clarification before their impact can be assessed.

"The government needs to outline a comprehensive widening access strategy for medicine that includes a resolution to ongoing issues with the NHS Bursary. We understand this area is complicated, but it must be addressed.



"The government has to start work immediately to deal with the negative side effects of its decision on tuition fees," the statement said.

(BMcN)