Journal Browser
Open Access Journal Article

Medical Education Reforms to Address Health Workforce Challenges in Pacific Islands

by John Anderson 1,*
1
John Anderson
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
AMJ  2022, 29; 4(1), 29; https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20220518
Received: 24 March 2022 / Accepted: 15 April 2022 / Published Online: 18 May 2022

Abstract

The Pacific Islands region faces significant challenges in addressing health workforce shortages, with a particular impact on the quality and accessibility of medical care. This paper examines the need for comprehensive medical education reforms to alleviate these challenges. By analyzing the current state of medical education within the region, the paper identifies gaps in curriculum design, pedagogical practices, and professional integration. The proposal for reforms includes the adoption of innovative teaching methods, collaboration with regional health organizations, and the implementation of clinical training programs tailored to the unique healthcare demands of Pacific Island communities. Furthermore, the paper discusses the importance of addressing cultural competencies and language barriers, as well as enhancing the use of technology for distance learning and telemedicine. The aim is to strengthen the healthcare systems in the Pacific Islands by producing a well-trained, culturally sensitive, and technologically adept healthcare workforce, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes for the region's population.


Copyright: © 2022 by Anderson. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

Share and Cite

ACS Style
Anderson, J. Medical Education Reforms to Address Health Workforce Challenges in Pacific Islands. Asia-Pacific Medical Journal, 2022, 4, 29. https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20220518
AMA Style
Anderson J. Medical Education Reforms to Address Health Workforce Challenges in Pacific Islands. Asia-Pacific Medical Journal; 2022, 4(1):29. https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20220518
Chicago/Turabian Style
Anderson, John 2022. "Medical Education Reforms to Address Health Workforce Challenges in Pacific Islands" Asia-Pacific Medical Journal 4, no.1:29. https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20220518
APA style
Anderson, J. (2022). Medical Education Reforms to Address Health Workforce Challenges in Pacific Islands. Asia-Pacific Medical Journal, 4(1), 29. https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20220518

Article Metrics

Article Access Statistics

References

  1. Burbules, N. C., & Callister, T. A. (2000). Watch IT: The Risks and Promises of Information Technologies for Education. Westview Press.
  2. Kama, M., & Vunibola, R. (2004). The Pacific Health Care Workforce: A Review of the Literature. Pacific Community (SPC).
  3. Poole, N., & Hearn, J. (2010). Problem-Based Learning: A Study of its Use in Medical Education in the Pacific Islands. University of Otago.
  4. Wainwright, D. (2009). Imperialism and Academic Medical Education: A Case Study of the University of Papua New Guinea School of Medicine. Medical Education, 43(3), 234-242.
  5. SPC (2009). Simulation in Medical Education in the Pacific Islands. Pacific Community (SPC).
  6. Karlsen, S., & Ramel, A. (2003). Cultural Competence in Health Care. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 31(2), 149-150.
  7. Ongolo-Zogo, P., et al. (2012). Improving Health Care Access in the Democratic Republic of Congo through Telemedicine. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 18(3), 178-182.
  8. World Bank (2011). Harnessing Technology for Health: A World Bank Policy Research Report. World Bank.
  9. Hearn, J., et al. (2008). The Pacific Islands Medical Education Network (PIMEN): A Case Study. Pacific Community (SPC).
  10. Tavake, T. (2006). Traditional Healers and Indigenous Knowledge in the Pacific Islands. Pacific Health Dialog, 13(2), 32-37.
  11. SPC (2012). Health Workforce in the Pacific: A Review of the Literature. Pacific Community (SPC).
  12. WHO (2010). Global Health Workforce Alliance: Progress Report 2010. World Health Organization.
  13. Sipilas, C. V., et al. (2007). The Impact of Non-Communicable Diseases on the Health Workforce in the Pacific Islands. Pacific Health Dialog, 14(2), 49-56.
  14. Kama, M., & Vunibola, R. (2005). Gender Disparities in the Health Workforce in the Pacific Islands. Pacific Health Dialog, 12(1), 8-17.