PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry is ready to work with the armed forces to place medical students for housemanship training programmes with the latter nationwide.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the plan is workable as both the ministry and armed forces have similar structure.
"They are essentially service hospitals and have a structure similar to us. Previously, our doctors were seconded to the Defence Ministry where they spent two or three years of service there.
"We can review the process. Although they have their own medical university, taking housemen from the Health Ministry is workable," he told reporters today.
Dr Subramaniam said the matter will be discussed further with the armed forces to find ways on how it can be executed as soon as possible.
Yesterday, Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said medical students are welcome to do their housemanship training programmes at its three royal military hospitals and its 73 armed forces medical centres nationwide.
He said medical services cases involving army personnel, their extended families and army veterans, would give them a great opportunity to learn and improve their skills.
"We do not mind bringing them (medical students) in for housemanship training, but to employ them is a different issue as we need a budget," he said.