As they are due to start their internship, sixth-year medical students are facing a wall following the elimination of more than 1,500 intern positions and an ongoing reform. Some students say they are considering continuing their studies abroad, particularly in Belgium.
“I’ve been super stressed for a month now, even more stressed than in my first year of medical school.”describes Victoire, who has just completed her sixth year of medicine at the University of Aix-Marseille. Arriving 3400th nationally to access the internship, she would have initially liked to choose anesthesia as a specialty.I’m already sure I won’t get my first choiceshe explains. I wouldn’t have gastroenterology either, and I’m not sure I’ll have gynecology.“.
The cause is a reform of health studies in 2021, which concerns sixth-year students for the first time. Instead of theoretical exams carried out at the end of the course, the ECN (National Ranking Tests), the ranking is now done in two stages:written exams at the beginning of the academic year, which count for 60% of the ranking, then oral exams at the end of the year, which count for 30% of the competition. The 10% are intended to assess the students’ journey “in parallel with their purely medical training”.
New conditions that led about 1000 students not to take the exams, preferring to repeat. About 400 others did not pass the written exams, for which a mark of at least 14/20 is required. At the University of Aix-Marseille, “About 25% of students did not pass the written exams”believes Victoire.
On July 7, a decree defined the number of students admitted to the third year of 7,974against 9484 in 2023, i.e. a little over 1,500 fewer positions accessible to students. A national petition has been set up by one of the interns concerned to demand that these positions be reopened this year. More than 55,000 signatures have already been collected.
“The positions offered for the internship have been reduced accordingly, without however taking into account the strength of demand for certain specialties.
Hélène Herubel, originator of the change.org petition
“I am ranked 3800. I wanted to specialize in gynecology. Last year, it was possible up to about 4900. But this year, I am sure I will not have it. Otherwise, I would like to have surgery, but I am not sure eitherdescribes himself Jules Cipriani, also a sixth-year student.
Enough to encourage some students to look abroad. “We are making doctors leave. Many students are thinking about going abroad, in Belgium for example. It is easier there to apply for the specialties that interest usdescribes Victoire. This is a path that I am possibly considering for next year.”.
“If I have a surgical position, why not stay in France. But if that’s not the case, I’m going to put together files to go abroad. I prefer to pay for things and do what I like.”believes Jules Cipriani.
“The most sought-after positions have been reduced because there are fewer promotions,” the Ministry of Health told Le Figaro. “If we open 1,500 more positions, we will create a catastrophic imbalance in the least attractive specialties which risk having no interns”Matignon also responded.