Medical education-collateral damage of COVID-19?

Dear editor, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a potentially fatal respiratory illness, caused by a novel strain of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact globally, affecting more than 5 million people worldwide.1 Medical students and training doctors have been redeployed in many of the countries affected, taking on roles beyond the scope of their normal training. The move can have advantages and disadvantages for their education. In the UK, medical school completion usually takes 5–6 years. Final examinations, in the form of written exams and Objective Structured Clinical Exams (OSCEs), are required in order to obtain a medical degree. As a result of COVID-19, some institutions have shifted forward the dates for final examinations, while many others have decided to cancel OSCEs, and opting to move written examinations to an online format. Cancellation of finals may be a disappointment to many, missing out on the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge they have accumulated throughout medical school. For students in the middle of their medical studies, universities across the UK are completing the curriculum through remote lectures. However, much of medicine is based upon learning through patient contact, for which there is no substitute. Due to the pressure on the National Health Service, some 5500 medical students have been brought into the workforce.2 Provisional registration was provided where possible to final year medical students so that they can take on Foundation …