Delivering surgical training in the People's Republic of China: are current mechanisms adequate?

Abstract

The need for comprehensive surgical care for China's vast population is evident in improving patient treatment outcomes. Rapid economic development has meant that China has become a developing country with a unique opportunity to formulate and strategise training of its surgeons to build a firm foundation for the advancement of clinical surgery and the surgical sciences. Currently deployed within the three-tiered health care system, surgical training in China is complex. Medical school education is variable in duration from 3-8 years yet the possibility of surgical training is not open to all graduates. Postgraduate training, known as Standard Surgical Training (SST) lasts for approximately five years and is separated into two phases by the central government, however there is no central regulation of the training progression and certification is organised at a local level. Academic requirements are high and research output is mandatory at higher level training, with doctorates able to fast-track through surgical training. There are major concerns with equality and disparity in training resources and opportunities as well as actually addressing clinical needs of local patient populations. Despite this, surgical training in China is undergoing constant development and its future will prove important observations of international medical education strategies.