Asian medical education

In order to address issues relating to medical education in Asia, consideration must be given to the many differences among Asian countries, including variations in sizes, populations, social and cultural backgrounds, histories, political systems, and stages of economic development. In most Asian countries, poverty is pervasive, and it is usually national in scope. This is often coupled with lack of government commitment to provide health facilities and health care for the entire population. Systems of medical education differ widely and are based mainly on those of the country of colonial domination; hence, the systems may reflect predominantly British, American, Japanese, or Dutch influence, among others. Although most medical schools in Asia have academic disciplines and admission standards similar to those of Western schools, there are sharp differences among countries in faculty salaries, faculty competence, academic standards, adequacy of staffing, and number of medical schools. Underlying conditions and influences that have contributed to the current status of medical education systems in Asia are discussed.