A web-based cross-sectional survey of municipal government scholarships associated with selective medical school admissions for medically underserved areas / 日本プライマリ・ケア連合学会誌

ABSTRACT

<b>Introduction</b> Municipal government scholarships for the purpose of support of rural health & medically underserved areas has increased, but repayment exemption conditions of the scholarships vary. We conducted a survey of scholarships to clarify their impact on physician careers.<br><b>Methods</b> A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from November 2013 to January 2014 among municipal governments administering scholarships associated with selective medical school admissions for medically underserved areas in 2013.<br><b>Results</b> There were 59 scholarships administered by 42 municipal governments connected with 53 universities. The mode of the total loan amount was 14.4 million yen. Features of the loan agreements were a high repayment interest rate (over 10%) in 70% of the scholarships and a requirement for lump-sum repayment in 41 scholarships. Three programs allowed free choice of residency training for 3 years or more during the obligatory term, while 48 programs did not allow such choice during the entire obligatory term.<br><b>Conclusion</b> Eighty-percent of the scholarship programs do not allow for the minimum 3 years of basic post-graduate training required by specialty training program guidelines. In order to prevent the anticipated reduction in future applicants to these scholarship programs, appropriate interest rates, repayment rules, and allowance for specialty training are required.