Policies on U.S. Citizens Studying Medicine Abroad Need Review and Reappraisal
HRD-81-32
Published: Nov 21, 1980. Publicly Released: Nov 21, 1980.
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Highlights
GAO reviewed U.S. citizens studying medicine abroad, concentrating on: (1) the education or training provided by six foreign medical schools in which several thousand U.S. citizens are enrolled; (2) the clinical training which U.S. citizen foreign medical school students receive in U.S. hospitals; (3) the avenues available for entering the American medical system; and (4) federal financial assistance provided to U.S. citizens while studying medicine abroad. Many U.S. citizens attend foreign schools with the goal of returning to the United States to practice medicine. Much concern has been expressed about the recent proliferation of medical schools established abroad to attract U.S. citizens, and questions have been raised about the adequacy and appropriateness of that educational experience for practicing medicine in the United States.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Congress should direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to work with state licensing authorities and representatives of the medical profession to develop and implement appropriate mechanisms that would ensure that all students who attend foreign medical schools demonstrate that their medical knowledge and skills are comparable to those of their U.S.-trained counterparts before they are allowed to enter the U.S. health care delivery system for either graduate medical education or medical practice. |
Closed – Not Implemented
|
A follow-up review was performed and HRD-85-112 was issued on September 27, 1985. The report offered alternative approaches to resolving the problems which this recommendation addressed. Therefore, this recommendation is no longer valid. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should accept foreign medical schools approved by the Secretary of Education as a basis for authorizing educational benefits to qualified veterans, their spouses, and their dependents. |
Closed – Not Implemented
A follow-up review was performed and HRD-85-112 was issued on September 27, 1985. The report offered alternative approaches to resolving the problems which this recommendation addressed. Therefore, this recommendation is no longer valid.
|
| Department of Education | The Secretary of Education should issue regulations establishing procedures and criteria for implementing the legislative requirement that the Department of Education ensure that foreign medical schools are comparable to medical schools in the United States before authorizing guaranteed student loans for U.S. citizens attending these schools. |
Closed – Not Implemented
HRD-85-112 offered alternative approaches to resolving the problems which this recommendation addressed; therefore this recommendation is no longer valid. In addition, the regulations issued by the Secretary of Education were challenged in court and the Secretary was ordered to reconsider a key provision of the regulation.
|
| Department of Education | The Secretary of Education should ensure that the government's interest in outstanding guaranteed student loans at foreign medical schools is adequately protected by properly verifying the status of all U.S. citizens with outstanding loans and initiating repayment where appropriate. |
Closed – Not Implemented
A follow-up review was performed and HRD-85-112 was issued on September 27, 1985. The report offered alternative approaches to resolving the problems which this recommendation addressed. Therefore, this recommendation is no longer valid.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should, in cooperation with state licensing authorities and representatives of the medical profession, address the current practice whereby students attending foreign medical schools receive part or all of their undergraduate clinical training in U.S. hospitals. |
Closed – Not Implemented
HHS stated that it will cooperate with state licensing authorities and the medical profession. However, it considers the issue raised a matter to be resolved by the private sector and the respective state boards and plans no specific action. HRD-85-112 offered alternative approaches to resolving the problems, therefore this recommendation is no longer valid.
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Americans studying abroadEducation program evaluationLicensesMedical educationMedical schoolsStudent financial aidVeterans benefitsStudentsSchoolsHospitals