Funding for Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is desperately needed to improve accessibility to Medicine. During this global pandemic, our need for improved infrastructure, more consultant positions and doctors in general has been highlighted. #Budget2021

GEM students pay circa €16,000 p/a (for 4 years) and this is without the same level of support from the HEA as undergrads. Many are forced to take out a specific loan of 50k for 14 years. This strain on a household’s income that are just above the SUSI threshold is monumental.

The financial impact of the global pandemic will further add to this stress on household’s. This will accompany many new aspirations to pursue medicine following the pandemic. The heroism of those people in our health service has been nothing short of inspirational.

This isn’t factoring in the financial strain of getting in the door for both undergrad and post grad med. GEM’s have already paid 9-12k for an undergraduate degree and a varying excess depending on the number of attempts taking the standardised entry test https://www.medicalindependent.ie/getting-the-foot-through-the-medical-door/

More places, supports and acknowledgment of the level of competition and financial impact on those wishing to pursue medicine is greatly needed. Our health service can become more sustainable but to do that, we quite simply; need more doctors and secure posts for them to take.

I adore the fact that we have a Graduate Entry Medicine programme in this country. Its existence widens access to so many more varieties of student. However, we have to do better in regards to removing the financial blockages both entering and pursuing the degree. @SimonHarrisTD