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Research - 27.10.2017 - 00:00 

Next stage for the Joint Medical Master

The Advisory Committee of the Cantonal Parliament supports the introduction of a Master’s programme in Medicine and proposes that the 6th amendment to the Act on the University of St.Gallen (Joint Medical Master) be tabled.
Source: HSG Newsroom

27 October 2017. Under the chairmanship of Valentin Rehli, Walenstadt, the Advisory Committee of the Cantonal Parliament debated the 6th amendment to the Act on the University of St.Gallen, which provides that 40 students would be able to attend a Master’s programme in Medicine at the University of St.Gallen from Autumn Semester 2020. The so-called Joint Medical Master is based on a cooperation agreement between the Universities of St.Gallen and Zurich with the collaboration of the St.Gallen Cantonal Hospital and Zurich’s University Hospital. The undergraduates intended for the St.Gallen Master’s degree course already started their studies at the University of Zurich in Autumn Semester 2017.

Fighting the shortage of physicians and strengthening local education facilities

The Committee discerns a clear need for action in order to create more university places for future physicians. It regards the present project as a necessary measure in the fight against the shortage of physicians in Eastern Switzerland, in particular. Although the costs that would be incurred by the Master’s programme were critically scrutinised, the Committee agreed that this investment would be worth it. Eastern Switzerland as a whole would profit from the new degree course in St.Gallen. Moreover, the Committee emphasised the added value which a Master’s programme in Medicine would create for local health care and education facilities. In addition, the Committee focused on primary care, interprofessional cooperation and the exploitation of synergies.

Further schedule

The dispatch will be debated in a first reading in the coming November session and in a second reading in the 2018 February session. Subsequently, the bill will be prepared for a popular ballot.

Photo: Canton St.Gallen

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