Examination dates:

photo : http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcjohn/74907741/

Class of 2009
27/11/08 PAEDS Written
28/11/08 PSYCH Written
01/12/08 PAEDS Clinical
02/12/08 PAEDS OSCE
03/12/08 O & G Written - MCQ, MEQ & PBQ
04/12/08 PSYCH - OSCE
05/12/08 O & G - OSCE
09/12/08 O & G - Long Case

Class of 2010
05/12/08 EBM
06/12/08 Surgery Written - MCQ & EMQ
06/12/08 Medicine Written - MCQ
12/12/08 Ophthalmology - MCQ
12/12/08 ENT - MCQ
15/12/08 Ophthalmology - Long Case
17/12/08 ENT - OSCE

At least five doctors to suffer from mental woes every month
By M. KRISHNAMOORTHY

KUALA LUMPUR: Every month, at least five doctors are found to be suffering from mental illnesses, director-general of health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said.

He said these doctors were either psychotic or neurotic but still managed to get into medical schools because these schools were not screening students meticulously enough.

“When the doctors complete their two-year housemanship and their applications are submitted for registration with the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), they fail to get registered.

“Their supervisors do not certify them as fit to be registered because of indiscipline and poor attitude arising from mental health problems.

“The mental cases range from psychotic to neurotic. Psychotic cases include delusions and hallucinations, and neurotic behaviour includes anxiety, fear and anger due to the competitive environment, ” said Dr Ismail.

These medical graduates, totalling about 60 cases a year, are unable to cope with their housemanship as they may have been pressured by their parents to take up medicine.

Dr Ismail said it was disheartening to note this emerging trend due to an inefficient selection process, adding that the mental cases were referred to the Medical Review Panel (MRP).

Since many of these graduates have spent a lot of money on their medical education, the MRP may extend their housemanship and at the same time send them for psychiatric treatment.

“In the event they are assigned to work, they will be thoroughly supervised and counselled by experts and given light duties until their mental condition improves.

“I am not so sure whether we can identify those with attitude problems during an interview unless such problems are obvious,” Dr Ismail said at a forum on Training Future Doctors: Have we got it right?”

About 2,000 medical doctors are registered annually from 21 local medical schools and 400 recognised schools overseas.

Different medical schools around the world have different selection criteria for their students, Dr Ismail said.

However, he said that the ministry was also planning some form of examination to check their attitude, knowledge and experience after they complete their final examination.

Most of the mentally ill students, he said, could have undergone pressure and depression while studying and faced difficulty in coping in a hospital environment.

The other weakness was a lack of proficiency in the English language.

Higher Education director-general Prof Datuk Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi said the ministry was currently reviewing universities’ curricula to ensure high standards in medical education and training
for doctors.

“Uppermost on our minds will be the safety and well-being of patients,” he said.

Picked up from The Star : Sunday November 30, 2008

Dear all,

The 2008 weekend seminar series in Cardiology, which will be held in Park Royal Hotel,Penang, this Sunday (23 Nov 2008), is opened for application now. This seminar is organised by several pharmaceutical companies and they are sponsoring 10 PMC students to attend the seminar.

It is a precious opportunity for those who are interested in the current issues in cardiovascular practice. Students who are interested in participating must submit your name and contact number, by replying to this email. This application is only opened to the class of 2009 and 2010. Applicants must reply to this emaill by 12 pm wednesday.

The college is expecting a large number of applicants. If there are more than 10 applicants, the college will be drawing lots to decide who are the lucky one to attend the seminar.

Hope to hear from you all soon! Thanks

Regards,
Shin Shen
VP PMCSA 2008/2009

No pun & offence intended…

Get your copy from Farhana, Aster or Izwan. Only RM 1 each! Also available at the library counter.

Malaysian scientists produce substance that can rid body of heavy metals
By Audrey Dermawan

2008/11/04

A team of researchers from Universiti Sains Malaysia have successfully produced a powdery substance obtained from durian rind that can be used to remove heavy metals in human body. The heavy metals - such as lead, mercury and arsenic - if left unattended for too long can result in severe dysfunction of the kidney, reproductive system, liver, brain and central nervous system.

A high degree of industralisation and urbanisation have resulted in significant amounts of heavy metals being deposited into our rivers and lakes, and into the atmosphere.

Lead researcher, Associate Professor Azhar Mat Easa from the School of Industrial Technology, said it took the team two years to produce the substance, better known as mDRP (modified durian rind pectin).

“There is no such product available in the market yet and this is a major achievement for us.

“We are fine-tuning and value-adding the product now … if all goes well, we will be able to use to same product to block cancer cells in three years’ time,” he spoke to the New Straits Times at the university’s main campus today.

Picked up from New Strait Times

Kindly point your browser to Medicine.com.my for further discussion:

http://medicine.com.my/wp/?p=5183

Hello people,

We received an invitation from the Asian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) for the 22nd East Asian Medical Students’ Conference. The theme for this year’s conference is ‘Engaging Asia-Pacific Youth in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS’.

The details are as follows:
Venue : Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date : 7th – 11th January 2009
Theme : Engaging Asia-Pacific Youth in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS
Host : Asian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) and Monash University
Supported by : Malaysian Aids Council

Kindly visit www.med.monash.edu.my/events/eamsc for more information. Also please check in the FirstClass for the booklet and registration form.

I understand that the fee for the conference is not stated. I am currently still trying to get hold of the relevant people. I will post up the information as soon as I can. We are given a limited allocation, so those who are interested, please SEND ME YOUR NAMES as soon as possible.

Thank you and enjoy your week~!

Aster Low,
PMCSA PR Officer

Student Advisory Services will be available to all PMC students as from Wednesday 12th November 2008. The details regarding the services offered are as in attached file in the FirstClass.

Clinical Psychologist Ms. Saralla will provide these services every Wednesday from 10am to 2pm at the Student Centre. For students who need these services, kindly make prior appointments with Cik Fauziah, Administrative Assistant, Psychiatry Department.

The Registrar
Penang Medical College

2007 - 4th place
2008 - Runner-up (2nd)
2009 - 1st?

View larger versions @

http://picasaweb.google.com/PMClife/PenangIntercollegeSoccerFinal

High quality version : click on the video to get a direct access to the Youtube

OAG - Name Of The Game

Huhu….uuh…huuu….

Crowd:
C’mon everybody!

In the middle of the field
You wonder how it feels
To be in the middle of along
Along hot Saturday

You were all over there
And the most local scenes
How it all begin
From the moment of the shining goal

Like it’s gonna be a cold day
Like there is no one gonna blow a whistle
dont blame me with no treat
Coz I’am so tired and so sick
What’s the name of the game 2x
You were playin’
What’s the name of the game 2x
You were playin’

Huhu….uuh…huuu….

In the middle of the field
You wonder how it feel
To be in the middle of along
Along hot Saturday - you were all over there
And the most local scenes
How it all begin
From the moment of the shining goal

Like it’s gonna be a cold day
Like there is no one gonna blow a whistle
Don’t blame me with no treat
Coz I’am tired and so sick
What’s the name of the game 2x
You were playin’
What’s the name of the game 2x
You were playin’

I thought I will be the only one who care
But I should have known before we play
Before we play
Playin’ again
Playin’ again