University blamed as hospitals reject medical student interns

Feb 15, 2011

Almost 60 medical technology students at Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University have filed a complaint against the university after finding their study programme is not certified by the Medical Technology Council.

Medical technology students from the faculty of sciences and technology gathered yesterday at the Education Ministry to submit a petition to Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat. The minister appointed a representative to receive the students' complaint.

Orapin Jimkrathok, a third-year student, said the students learned about the status of their course late last month when hospitals rejected their applications for internships.

They said they were rejected because the university's medical technology programme was not certified by the Medical Technology Council.

The students cannot graduate without completing an internship.

It also prevented the students from obtaining professional licences in medical technology, Ms Orapin said.

"We asked the university rector to clarify the matter, but no clear answer has been given," she said.

"The teachers keep telling us that the university is trying to solve this problem, but nothing has been solved so far."

Bansamdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, in Bangkok's Thon Buri district, launched its medical technology programme in 2008. About 180 students are enrolled in the programme.

Ms Orapin said the university did not reveal all the details of the programme's status when students applied to enrol.

She called on the university to have the course certified or transfer the students to a certified medical technology programme at another university so they could continue their studies.

BRSU representatives lodged a complaint with the Administrative Court yesterday, asking for it to impose an injunction allowing it to continue the medical technology programme.

The university also sought a court order for the Medical Technology Council to revoke its resolution not to certify the programme, said deputy rector Somchai Ratsamee.

BRSU demanded the council adjust its criteria on certifying medical technology courses and pay the university 200 million baht in compensation to cover the cost of damage to its reputation.

The Administrative Court has accepted the case for trial, Mr Somchai said.

"Our medical technology programme is prepared well," the deputy rector said.

"It was approved by the University Council in 2008 and forwarded to the Medical Technology Council for further certification in the same year."

The Medical Technology Council sent two teams to evaluate the programme last year, basing their assessments on different criteria. This resulted in the university failing to have the programme certified, Mr Somchai said.

"This is unfair and has caused damage to the university's reputation," he said.

Mr Chinnaworn said the problem of students being lured into studying uncertified courses had occurred at several institutes.

"The University Council endorsed the programme prior to the approval of the professional council concerned and this caused problems when the programme did not pass the professional council's evaluation," he said.

Thank you Bangkok Post

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