UK-MALAWI: Project to reduce medical brain drain

Scotland's University of Dundee has launched a pilot project aimed at reducing Africa's medical brain drain, through a partnership with the University of Malawi's college of medicine that will see selected final year students undergoing four-month placements in the southern African country.

Dr Jon Dowell, Dundee University's director of undergraduate education in the division of Community Health Sciences, told University World News that student placements from the university would soon start in Malawi.

The project envisages transferring manpower and resources to Malawi as well as discouraging the medical brain drain. The UK students will be based at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, where the college of medicine intends to establish a new satellite campus.

"Funds tied to the students will be used to assist the [Malawi] college and hospital in providing enhanced learning opportunities and facilities," Dowell said in answer to e-mailed questions from University World News. "This will help Dundee students but, of crucial importance, also their Malawian colleagues and the hospital as a whole."

The project will result in student and staff exchanges, selected staff development and improvements to Malawi's educational infrastructure and resources. Medical students will work in wards as well as conducting research for mini-projects with international health organisations and at local outreach clinics.

Dundee University decided on the project after realising that many medical students in the UK were keen to visit developing countries during their electives. But because of minimal preparation and little knowledge of international health issues, in most cases students failed to make a meaningful contribution to health care provision - and in some cases unplanned visits proved to be a drain on scarce local resources.

The current project will be evaluated to assess its impact both educationally and clinically.
"It is hoped that the partnership between the University of Malawi college of medicine and Kamuzu Central Hospital will act as a catalyst for other hospital and university links," Dowell added. "If the pilot project is successful, it is anticipated that this could provide a model for an ongoing sustainable programme."

The Scottish government's International Development Fund and NHS Education for Scotland is supporting the pilot project with a three-year grant. Staff and students at Dundee University are also embarking on fundraising for some specific projects.