The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Fiji National University (FNU). 
 
Speaking from a ceremony in Suva, RACP President Dr Catherine Yelland said the MoU will see doctors from Australia, New Zealand and Fiji working together to develop specialist medical training expertise and education.

“Internationally, our focus is on health education and research and building capacity among educators, academics, physician specialists and their institutions in our region,” Dr Yelland said.

“Specifically, we have determined to focus our initial efforts on supporting specialist medical training and education in the South West Pacific and Timor Leste.

“This MoU will also enhance many activities undertaken by our own physicians, Australasian medical colleges, individual medical colleagues, and organisations working in the region.

“We look forward to building stronger ties with FNU’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and working together on post graduate education, training and research opportunities.”

The RACP’s support will include Fellows assessing teaching materials and curricula, providing mentoring and advice on teaching practices and assessment processes and assisting professional development material support and clinical teaching practice.

The MoU is effective immediately and will remain in place for five years.

About the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP): The RACP trains, educates and advocates on behalf of more than 25,000 trainees and physicians across Australia and New Zealand.

The College represents a broad range of medical specialties including general medicine, paediatrics and child health, cardiology, respiratory medicine, neurology, oncology, public health medicine, occupational and environmental medicine, palliative medicine, sexual health medicine, rehabilitation medicine, geriatric medicine and addiction medicine. Beyond the drive for medical excellence, the RACP is committed to developing health and social policies which bring vital improvements to the wellbeing of patients.

The College offers 61 training pathways. These lead to the award of one of seven qualifications that align with 45 specialist titles recognised by the Medical Board of Australia or allow for registration in nine vocational scopes with the Medical Council of New Zealand.

About FIJI National University: FIJI National University (FNU) dates back to 1885, when Suva Medical School was founded now the FNU College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (CMNHS).  The CMNHS is a merger of two of Fiji’s oldest health and medical institutions; The Fiji School of Medicine and the Fiji School of Nursing. 

The CMNHS is a merger of two of Fiji’s oldest health and medical institutions; The Fiji School of Medicine and the Fiji School of Nursing.  The CMNHS has the vision to be the leading health workforce academic education and research institution in the Pacific Region. It strives for excellence and relevance in all that it does and focuses on graduating compassionate and competent health professionals who will improve the health of people in the Pacific Region.

The CMNHS delivers undergraduate programs in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, health, medical imaging, medical laboratory technology, public, nutrition, physiotherapy, nursing and midwifery. To extend the formal academic program, short courses are offered in areas such as reproductive health, trauma management, advanced life support and disaster management, emergency health, phlebotomy and treatment of Tuberculosis.