THE single biggest problem facing the profession in Europe and North America was too many doctors, the chief executive of the IMO, Mr George McNeice, told the conference.
For as long as could be remembered, Mr McNeice added, the medical schools' collective output had exceeded the national requirement in Ireland. But despite urgings from organisations like the IMO, no real attempt had been made to address the problem. The Third World remained the only constant area of need.
Mr McNeice said Irish graduates and aspirants to a medical career would need to be fully informed of the reality of the dilemma, even though some organisations and institutions had steadfastly refused to confront the problem for more than 25 years.
"Meanwhile, the manpower problem continues to escalate to the point where we are now confronted by an increasingly serious manpower glut. Here in Ireland, this situation has led to understandable frustrations and resentment among younger doctors now facing the prospect of unemployment or under employment.
"The priority for the IMO now and in the coming years is to address how best we can harness available medical manpower in the interests of society and the profession," Mr McNeice said.
He added that every year in Ireland approximately 2,000 young men and women applied to the medical schools. Of this number some 350 were accepted, of whom between 75 and 150 would go on to gain full time employment in the State.