RIYADH — The Ministry of Education announced the allocation of 300 seats and scholarships for medical training for Saudis in the general fellowship and specialization categories of doctors in Britain under the England – KSA International Postgraduate Medical Training Scheme (IPGMTS) 2021-22. This is in cooperation with the English medical training organization -Health Education England (HEE) — and University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) with the support of the British Council. The ministry has set the date for applying for the course from Thursday (March 18) until 12:00 p.m. on Aug. 19 this year. A total of 300 seats have been allocated for Saudi doctors in various general and precise specialties approved by the General Medical Council in Britain. The Health Education England (HEE) is the strategic workforce planning and education and training body of the English National Health Service (NHS). The NHS is one of the first and highest quality health systems providing Universal Health Coverage in the world. IPGMTS aims to provide medical specialty training in England, giving the candidates a full replication of NHS competence-based training. The IPGMTS enables overseas doctors, by arrangement with international governments, to undertake full specialty training to UK standards. This takes doctors from entry to the Certificate of Completion of Training and recognition in the GMC specialty register, in England, before returning home to practice as consultants in their chosen field. The ministry called on those wishing to join this program to apply for the seats on the Ambassador's platform. Obtaining IELTS (International English Language Testing System) certificate is a condition to apply for the program. There should be an overall score of 7.5, and a score of no less than 7.0 in each skill of the OET(Office of Educational Technology) test, which is the English language test for healthcare professionals apart from a minimum score of B for all test skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing). The date of passing these tests does not exceed two years, and also requires the clinical experience of not less than three years, with the year of internship. The trainee should join the program in August 2021, for which the application shall be submitted again during the month of July.
