Unnamed sources

Editor,

The article in China Daily on November 23 reporting on Tianjin Medical University's (TMU) course for students from other nations to gain medical degrees is interesting from a number of perspectives.

It raises the issue of international business within higher education and demonstrates how this university is seeking to meet the needs of its international students. It also highlights some of the challenges associated with the use of English as a language for global communication. The editors have allowed some unnamed students to express their experiences and feelings about the course. However we feel that, while it is good to gain the views of students and portray their perspectives, readers need full information in order to make a valid judgement on the issues raised.

There are many similarities, and some significant differences, in medical education around the world. Anyone who has decided to pursue a course in another country needs to take full responsibility for their decision and the implications that this may have upon what they need to do to register in the country where they intend to practice on completion of the course.

Every country has the responsibility of protecting its citizens by ensuring that all persons licensed to practice in healthcare are able to perform their roles in a safe and competent manner. India is no exception in this respect. Until there are specific agreements and standardization between governments, medical boards require people wishing to engage in clinical practice to cover any content and experience that may be specifically appropriate to the local situation. They require applicants to pass the same examination as their own professionals. Western professionals wishing to practice in China have to do this as do Chinese wishing to practice in Western nations.

The Indian Government's requirement for students who have qualified in other countries to demonstrate acquisition of their specific standards is simply this, no more, no less. It should not be construed, as the unnamed students in the article implied, to reflect on Chinese medical training in general or specially on TMU and the course that the students are undertaking here.

The use of English as the language of global communication presents significant challenges. This situation is better addressed by mutual understanding and tolerance and by raising issues with the people in the institution best able to deal with them rather than by the type of anonymous comments made by some of the students quoted in the article. As professional people we are quite happy to put our names to our comments students who are preparing to enter the medical profession should be prepared to do the same.

Jean Glover, Linda Perkings and Angela Back, Tianjin

We need volunteers

Editor,

In reading an article in your newspaper on December 5 entitled, "Volunteers help build a stronger society," written by Khalid Malik, I concurred with his views and would also supplement them with the following suggestions.

Volunteer services could be pursued via different channels and methodologies. The targets to be served could also be multiple and varied. To put this into perspective, I would highlight the following:

We need to help the orphans and poor families in villages or remote areas to ensure their children receive basic education to improve their future. China has made significant economic growth over the last two decades, but many people are still living below the poverty line.

To this end, many volunteers are needed. The UN and other developed countries could therefore play a role to train and support volunteers so that such needs could be fulfilled in China and other poor countries. Charity should replace a self-centred or self-interested approach.

To help make our earth a peaceful and harmonious place to live requires every one of us to really reflect. We need co-operation, commitment and careful co-ordination between different countries, regardless of race and religion. The UN should and could play a leading role in promoting volunteer work.

Fong Yun-wah, Hong Kong

(China Daily 12/13/2006 page4)