McFadyen: Med school ‘not practical’

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This article was published 20/09/2011 (5514 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba’s political leaders briefly debated the merits of a medical school at Brandon University during a Monday morning leaders debate broadcast on a Winnipeg radio station.

Progressive Conservative Leader Hugh McFadyen took the clearest stance on a stand-alone Brandon University medical school, stating the idea was “not practical.”

“It was an interesting idea when it came forward, but the advice we are getting is that it’s not practical,” McFadyen said. “We definitely need to do a better job on rural recruitment and retention (of doctors) and we have a real problem with recruitment and retention throughout Manitoba.

“The location of the medical school is one we will have to look at carefully.”

NDP Leader Greg Selinger did not directly commit to establishing a medical school at Brandon University when directly asked by the debate moderator whether he supported the idea.

“There will be a program in Brandon, and Brandon will play a role in training doctors,” Selinger said. “Whether there will be a separate medical school, that’s not determined yet.”

Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard said distance education can be a tool for prospective doctors in remote areas looking for medical training.

“In northern B.C., they have a medical school there that is largely distance (education) where the classes are in southern B.C.,” Gerrard said. “It’s possible to do much better than we’re doing at the moment in terms of training people.”

Brandon University president Deborah Poff disputed Gerrard’s take on the northern British Columbia model, as she was a senior administrator at the University of Northern British Columbia when it established a medical school.

“That’s not true,” said Poff, the chairwoman of the joint Brandon University-University of Manitoba medical feasibility task force examining the merits of the a medical school in Brandon.

“(A distance education model) would be a terrible thing to do.”

Poff added UNBC’s medical school is not a distance-learning program, as Gerrard suggests, but one where classes are taken on campus and practicums are done in Prince George at the regional hospital, and other rural health-care facilities.

“The premier understands the circumstances that rural and northern residents face. For over 40 years all around the world, the best model for recruiting and retaining primary health-care physicians … is that people practise where they are educated.”

Ross Tycoles, chairman of the Assiniboine Municipal Health Committee, was upset with McFadyen’s response, as the work of Poff’s committee, due to report by March 31, 2012, isn’t complete.

“I’d be very disappointed in Mr. McFadyen’s comments until the study is complete,” Tycoles said. “I think prior to a study being complete, no one should have an opinion whether it be practical or not. That’s my position. I believe the study is important … and that it should be completed.

“The results of the study have to be applied because it’s easier to substantiate something as practical after a study is complete. They are spending $350,000 to do the study. Why wouldn’t he want to see the results of that study to determine whether that’s practical?”

Tycoles said Selinger’s response to the question shows at least a Brandon University medical school option is being considered and that the $350,000 spent on the task force, “wasn’t thrown away.”

While there was still work to do, Poff said the research already suggests either a joint medical school with the University of Manitoba or a stand-alone school at Brandon University are options.

“There’s a lot of evidence that this works all over the world,” she said. “I’m a little sorry to hear the other two leaders didn’t make more positive comments, particularly given the research won’t be presented for several months.”

» kborkowsky@brandonsun.com