Education and training in gastroenterology. A report from the Far East

The Far East is a poorly defined region with enormous population density, the countries possessing divergent historical and cultural backgrounds, and in many the spectrum of disease is determined by poverty. Training in gastroenterology usually involves 3 years' training in general medicine, followed by 3-5 years' training in gastroenterology. The degree of sophistication of the program varies from country to country. The survey showed most units had 20-40 beds allocated to gastrointestinal diseases, and the number of full-time and research staff varied greatly. A need existed for overseas training for graduates doing their initial training in gastroenterology, and for more senior gastroenterologists who wish to extend their knowledge of overseas practices and techniques. Also, in many countries there was a deficiency in the availability of overseas journals and texts.