Inoue K; Hirayama Y; Igarashi M
Department of Community and Family Medicine, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan.
Med Educ, 31(6):430-4 1997 Nov
Jichi Medical School (JMS) was established in 1972 to supply graduates to rural areas where medical resources are scarce. JMS has several unique characteristics aimed at motivating graduates to work in a rural practice. These include financial aid for students, a home prefecture recruiting scheme, location in a non-urban area, management by prefectures and support from the national government. The achievements of JMS over the 24-year period since its foundation have been evaluated. A questionnaire has been mailed to all JMS graduates since the first year of graduation. Using a pro-active approach to follow-up, the return rate has been virtually 100%. The authors investigated annual changes in the distribution of the graduates as well as the present status of
the graduates in 1995. At that time, JMS graduates were distributed all over Japan. Among the 1871 graduates, 792 (42%) were working in rural areas in 1995. Nine-hundred and twenty-four graduated in the period from the first to the ninth output of graduates. Among these, 858 (93%) completed the requisite 9 years of work contracted between JMS and the graduates, 620 (67%) had practised in the same prefecture, and 305 (33%) were still practising in a rural area. Although there are still
improvements to be made, JMS has succeeded in achieving its aim of supplying doctors to rural areas. The recruiting system of
JMS is an effective approach to overcoming the shortage of rural doctors, which has continued to be an unresolved global
problem.
Language
Eng
Unique Identifier
98124806
MESH Headings
Education, Medical, Undergraduate *OG ; Human ; Japan ; Rural Health Services * ; Schools, Medical *
Dear Bob; I believe that you are referring to the Jichi medical school in Japan. I was a visiting professor there in the mid-80s. Students who attend are selected by their prefecture-2 per prefecture per year-and after graduation owe a payback of ?6 years to be served in the prefecture in hospitals/clinics of greatest need. Their residency training in one of the prefecture regional hospital counts towards the payback. I do not know how many stay in rural areas after they complete their obligation. I am a bit skeptical of a 'rural medical school' since I have seen too many 'primary care' medical schools not live up to their original charter eg Beersheva, UC Davis. I am sure that there are other examples. I wonder if the financial rewards for rural practice were improved if that would not also improve the recruitment and retention of rural physicians.
Ronald Schneeweiss MD