The Ministry of Health and the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) will be increasing the number of recognized medical schools in the Schedule of the Medical Registration Act. The expansion of the Schedule will facilitate our hospitals to recruit doctors of high calibre to meet the rising demand for more doctors. 

With effect from 1 April 2007, another 20 schools will be added to the Schedule, and will include top Asian medical schools from China, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Korea and Malaysia (see Annex). This will bring the total number of recognised foreign medical school degrees from the current 120 to 140.

The continuing advances in medicine coupled with the ageing of our population necessitate a regular increase in the number of doctors to cater to our population's healthcare needs. Even as we increase the local intake of doctors, foreign-trained doctors can help expand our capacity to match demand, and help moderate healthcare costs.

Moreover, as Singapore promotes itself as a regional medical hub and a hub for world-class biomedical research, we will need many more doctors and clinician-scientists to support the expansion of such research activities in Singapore. With our emphasis on clinical excellence, Singapore is a place for good doctors to contribute their medical expertise.

SMC will continue to assess foreign-trained medical doctors in their initial years through a supervisory framework to ensure high standards of medical practice.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH
28 March 2007

ANNEX

List of the additional 20 foreign medical schools to be recognised

Canada
Faculte de Medecine, Universite Laval
Faculte de Medecine, Universite de Sherbrooke
Dalhousie University, Faculty of Medicine
University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine

China
Peking University Health Science Center (PUHSC)
Fudan University (Medical Center)

India
Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Maharashtra University of Health Sciences
Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi University
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry University

Malaysia
Universiti Malaya (Kuala Lumpur), Faculty of Medicine
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Faculty of Medicine

Pakistan
The Aga Khan University Medical College

South Korea
Yonsei University College of Medicine (Seoul)

Sri Lanka
University of Colombo, Faculty of Medicine

USA
Dartmouth Medical School
New York University School of Medicine
Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University - formally known as Brown Medical School