I refer to Medical course entry requirements (Prof. Pierre Mallia, TMID, 15 July). Though only 250 graduated as doctors between 2003 and 2007, maybe Prof. Mallia can check how many of the 100 medical students who finally managed to get in last October had been repeating their A Levels in Biology and Chemistry to get straight B’s or A’s. What has Malta won by having its only University frustrating students in this way? Who can blame them for getting their own back and leaving their country at the first opportunity?

Apart from all the patronising rhetoric like “It is a myth that we think there are not enough doctors in our system ... We are producing in fact too many ... In the private sector there are only too many doctors”, simple common sense states that if fewer than 50 family doctors are working full-time with the state, the other family doctors who work privately have obviously enough on their plate! In real terms, the setting up of group practices that are mandatory to provide a 24/7 service requires the engagement of many medics. Moreover, the health authorities are alarmed that there are fewer private family doctors in underprivileged areas. But all this seems to be of no concern to him.

Regarding his comment “I can live with the idea that someone’s son did not make it into medical school because the competition was too high”, I have made it amply clear in Parliament on 12 May when I brought up the issue for the umpteenth time and on this paper’s sister that, as far as I am concerned, “none of my sons, nephews or nieces are interested” (TMIS, 28 June). I hope whoever has an interest would declare it. Including present practitioners’ interest to have less competition of course!

Dr Jean-Pierre Farrugia MD, MP

Hamrun