Aptitude of Medical Students Towards their Postgraduate Medical Education at Multan; Brain Drain in Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51273/esc25.251321117Keywords:
Postgraduate Medical Education, Medical Students, Brain DrainAbstract
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the factors influencing medical students' decisions to pursue their Post Graduate
Medical Education (PGME) in Pakistan or abroad, and to examine the differences in preferences between
students from government and private medical colleges.
Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from January to July 2024 among
300 medical students in their 4th and final year of MBBS from four different medical colleges in Multan. A
Google form was used to collect data, with two sections: one for pursuing PGME in Pakistan and the other for
going abroad. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 27.
Results: The study found that 166 (55.3%) of the respondents were males. A majority of participants (53%)
preferred to stay in Pakistan, with 75.4% intending to pursue FCPS in Pakistan. Among those who wanted to
go abroad, the most popular examination options were USMLE (29.1%) and PLAB (63.1%). The major pull
factors influencing students' decisions to go abroad were lack of resources to move abroad (67.3%) and lack
of information about foreign exams (63.6%). The primary push-factors were low salaries of jobs (92.2%),
high unemployment rate (91.5%), availability of more opportunities abroad (78.7%), safer work
environment (65.3%), and better living standards (56%).
Conclusion: The study revealed that nearly half of the medical students (47%) intended to go abroad for their
postgraduate education. To prevent brain drain and retain our talented young doctors, the government should
implement policies to improve healthcare services in Pakistan.
Keywords: Postgraduate Medical Education, Medical Students, Brain Drain
How to cite: Qureshi I, Khokhar MA, Sarfaraz Z, Yar HM. Aptitude of Medical Students Towards their Postgraduate
Medical Education at Multan; Brain Drain in Pakistan. Esculapio - JSIMS 2025;21(01): 92-96
DOI: https://doi.org/10.51273/esc25.251321117
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