Draft:Medical Assistant Training School

Medical Assistant Training School (MATS)

Medical Assistant Training School (MATS) is a 4-year medical diploma-granting institution recognized by the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BM&DC). It operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and is affiliated with the Bangladesh National Medical Faculty. Currently, there are 16 government and 200 private Medical Assistant Training Schools (MATS) in Bangladesh. Upon completion of a 4-year diploma course from a MATS, one earns a "Diploma in Medical Faculty (DMF)" degree, which is registered with the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BM&DC).

As of June 2022, nearly 46,000 students have graduated with DMF degrees from MATS, as per data from The State Medical Faculty of Bangladesh. However, the BM&DC's latest records indicate that only around 30,000 DMFs are currently registered with them.

History of the creation of MATS

Following the liberation war of 1971, newly independent Bangladesh found itself in a dire health crisis. The war-ravaged nation was so debilitated that the government struggled to provide even basic healthcare to the impoverished and vulnerable masses. To recall this context, we must remember the time when countless people perished from simple diseases like cholera, leaving entire villages deserted.

It was in this backdrop that the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, with the aim of ensuring fundamental healthcare rights for all, formulated a plan to establish Medical Assistant Training Schools (MATS) as part of the First Five-Year Plan (1973-1978). Subsequently, in 1976, with the support of the Netherlands government and the approval of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the first MATS was launched under The State Medical Faculty of Bangladesh and recognized by the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BM&DC).

Curriculum structure

Currently, the course duration is 4.5 years (4 years of academic study and 6 months of internship). In these 4 academic years of the Medical Diploma (DMF) course, students study 12 fundamental subjects:

• 1st Year:
  1. Anatomy
  2. Physiology and Biochemistry
  3. English
  4. Computer Science
• 2nd Year:
  1. Pharmacology
  2. Pathology and Microbiology
• 3rd Year:
  1. Community Health and Medical Ethics
  2. Community Medicine and Health Management
• 4th Year:
  1. Medicine and Pediatrics
  2. Surgery
  3. Gynecology and Obstetrics

Every year, students must participate in clinical training (clinical bedside teaching) under the supervision of designated subject clinical teachers for 2-3 hours daily in the indoor, outdoor, and emergency departments of the district hospital.

After completing the 4-year academy, a mandatory 6-month internship is required at district and upazila hospitals.

Admission Eligibility

To get admission in MATS, students have to take part in the admission test. To take part in the admission test , students must have a minimum GPA of 2.50 in SSC examination including Biology from the science department. In the admission test, they will get a chance in government MATS according to the specific seats based on merit. For admission to private MATS, they will have to get a minimum pass mark in the admission test.

Although the admission requirement is a GPA of 2.5, students studying at MATS tend to have a GPA of above 4. Before 1999, the admission requirement for MATS was a minimum first-division pass.

Internship

Previously, MATS students had to do a one-year internship, of which 9 months were at the District Hospital and the remaining 3 months at the Health Complex.

Currently, the duration of the course has been increased to 4.5 years. Since the 4-year academic year includes clinic bed site teaching, the current internship has been made 6 months. Where 4 months have to be done at any government or private medical college/district hospital and the remaining 2 months at the Upazila Health Complex.

Hands-on training is provided in the indoor, outdoor, and emergency departments during internships, and currently, instructions are given to ensure logbooks are kept during internships.

Job and career opportunities

Although there are government-level job opportunities for students who have passed from MATS in Upazila Health Complexes and Union level, in reality these opportunities are very limited. In many cases, HSC passers are given priority in these positions.

Students who pass from the MATS get registration from the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC). However, there is a disagreement with MBBS doctors about whether this registration will allow them to be known as doctors.

Legality of providing medical services

Since 1987, graduates of MATS with DMF degrees have been registered with the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BM&DC) under category D as allopathic medical diploma holders. According to the BM&DC Act, DMF degree holders can practice medicine, surgery, and midwifery in accordance with the prescribed regulations. They are authorized to prescribe medications.

Number of seats

There are 716 seats in government MATS and 12,335 seats in private MATS. Combined, the IHTs (Institute of Health Technology) and MATS under the Directorate General of Health Services currently have nearly 70,000 students studying.

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References

1. Department of Health, Bangladesh.

2. The State Medical Faculty.