First year medical student asks govt to bring back funding for new MBBS students

A question has been raised by a first year medical student for the government to bring back the funding for the new MBBS students in the 2021/2022 National Budget and the Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says they are looking at ways to assist these students.

The National Toppers Scholarships and Tertiary Education Loan Scheme for MBBS and Oral Health has been suspended from this year after the announcement in the 2020/2021 National Budget.

Affected parents and students have been asking if the funding can be offered through TELS while the Toppers scholarship is on hold.

However funds cannot be accessed from TELS as well.

While speaking during the Virtual Public Budget Consultation from Singapore, Sayed-Khaiyum says he agrees with the medical student’s sentiments.

He says they are looking at ways to assist them

Sayed-Khaiyum says we have to take into account the current financial position of the government as revenue is halved because of COVID-19.

He says the government had to make some adjustments and there has been an issue with the ability of the government to intake doctors into the public service due to the limited number of positions available.