THERE would have to be clear evidence of over supply before any further curtailment of entry to the five Irish medical schools could be considered, the conference was told.
Mr John Hayden, secretary and chief executive of the Higher Education Authority, said his belief was that the numbers of students entering medical schools should not be restricted because there was insufficient data to show clearly the demand/supply picture.
Students should be given reasonable opportunity to enter medical schools providing the cost was not excessive.
While it was accepted that the capacity in medical schools was greater than that needed to supply the Irish market, it would be unacceptable, provided manpower demand was not very much out of line with supply, to further restrict entry, he added.
Delegates heard that Ireland and most European countries were facing an oversupply of doctors, and that the only market with capacity to absorb newly qualified doctors was the Third World.