Brunei International Medical Journal OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND UNIVERSITI BRUNEI DARUSSALAM Volume 17 27 April 2021 (15 Ramadhan 1442H ) EVOLUTION OF UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM. Divya Thirumalai RAJAM1, Fazean Irdayati IDRIS1, Nurolaini KIFLI1, Khadizah H. ABDUL- MUMIN1,2, Glenn HARDAKER3. 1PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, BE1410, Brunei Darussalam. 2School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia. 3Centre for Lifelong Learning, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, BE1410, Brunei Darussalam. BACKGROUND The establishment of a localised medical programme will increase the number of future doctors for the country. Additionally, this will improve the quality of education, through locally trained doctors, leading to better health care for the population. Our article reports the developmental transitions of medical education in Brunei Darussalam, which are derived from our experiences as curriculum developers and observers. This is supported by internal university documented resources such as: reports, historical perspectives from lo- cal journals and university documents. The aim of this article is to highlight the insights of medical educa- tion and its developments in Brunei Darussalam. Medical education in Brunei began with overseas training of students who typically completed their higher secondary school education in the United Kingdom. This followed by a twinning programme, and later an articulated programme with partner medical schools (PMS) across the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Australia, Canada and Hong Kong. The aim being to develop a ‘full-fledged’ medical programme in the near future. There have been further milestones achieved in the preparation of medical education, which will be reported in this article. Brunei Int Med J. 2021;17:55-60 ISSN 1560 5876 Print ISSN 2079 3146 Online Online version of the journal is available at www.bimjonline.com Brunei International Medical Journal (BIMJ) Official Publication of The Ministry of Health and Universiti Brunei Darussalam EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Ketan PANDE Sub-Editors Vui Heng CHONG William Chee Fui CHONG Editorial Board Members Muhd Syafiq ABDULLAH Alice Moi Ling YONG Ahmad Yazid ABDUL WAHAB Jackson Chee Seng TAN Pemasiri Upali TELISINGHE Pengiran Khairol Asmee PENGIRAN SABTU Dayangku Siti Nur Ashikin PENGIRAN TENGAH INTERNATIONAL EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Lawrence HO Khek Yu (Singapore) Chuen Neng LEE (Singapore) Wilfred PEH (Singapore) Emily Felicia Jan Ee SHEN (Singapore) Surinderpal S BIRRING (United Kingdom) Leslie GOH (United Kingdom) John YAP (United Kingdom) Ian BICKLE (United Kingdom) Nazar LUQMAN (Australia) Christopher HAYWARD (Australia) Jose F LAPENA (Philippines) Advisor Wilfred PEH (Singapore) Past Editors-in-Chief Nagamuttu RAVINDRANATHAN Kenneth Yuh Yen KOK Chong Vui Heng William Chong Chee Fui Proof reader John WOLSTENHOLME (CfBT Brunei Darussalam) ISSN 1560-5876 Print ISSN 2079-3146 Online Aim and Scope of Brunei International Medical Journal The Brunei International Medical Journal (BIMJ) is a six monthly peer reviewed official publication of the Ministry of Health under the auspices of the Clinical Research Unit, Ministry of Health, Brunei Darussalam. The BIMJ publishes articles ranging from original research papers, review arti- cles, medical practice papers, special reports, audits, case reports, images of interest, education and technical/innovation papers, editorials, commentaries and letters to the Editor. Topics of interest include all subjects that relate to clinical practice and research in all branches of medicine, basic and clinical including topics related to allied health care fields. The BIMJ welcomes manuscripts from contributors, but usually solicits re- views articles and special reports. Proposals for review papers can be sent to the Man- aging Editor directly. Please refer to the contact information of the Editorial Office. Instruction to authors Manuscript submissions literature and data sources pertaining to clinical All manuscripts should be sent to the Managing topics, emphasising factors such as cause, diagno- Editor, BIMJ, Ministry of Health, Brunei Darus- sis, prognosis, therapy, or prevention. Reviews salam; e-mail: [email protected]. should be made relevant to our local setting and Subsequent correspondence between the BIMJ and preferably supported by local data. The text should authors will, as far as possible via should be con- not exceed 3000 words and references not more ducted via email quoting the reference number. than 40. Conditions Special Reports Submission of an article for consideration for publi- This section usually consist of invited reports that cation implies the transfer of the copyright from the have significant impact on healthcare practice and authors to the BIMJ upon acceptance. The final usually cover disease outbreaks, management decision of acceptance rests with the Editor-in- guidelines or policy statement paper. Chief. 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Education section This section includes papers (i.e. how to interpret Manuscript categories ECG or chest radiography) with particular aim of Original articles broadening knowledge or serve as revision materi- These include controlled trials, interventional stud- als. Papers will usually be invited but well written ies, studies of screening and diagnostic tests, out- paper on relevant topics may be accepted. The text come studies, cost-effectiveness analyses, and should not exceed 1500 words and should include large-scale epidemiological studies. Manuscript not more than 15 figures illustration and references should include the following; introduction, materials should not be more than 15. and methods, results and conclusion. The objective should be stated clearly in the introduction. The Images of interest text should not exceed 2500 words and references These are papers presenting unique clinical encoun- not more than 30. ters that are illustrated by photographs, radio- graphs, or other figures. Image of interest should Review articles include a brief description of the case and discus- These are, in general, invited papers, but unsolicit- sion with educational aspects. Alternatively, a mini ed reviews, if of good quality, may be considered. quiz can be presented and answers will be posted in Reviews are systematic critical assessments of a different section of the publication. A maximum of Brunei Int Med J. 2021; 17 : ii three relevant references should be included. Only sign, and the analysis and interpretation of the images of high quality (at least 300dpi) will be ac- data (where applicable); to have made substan- ceptable. tial contributions to the writing or revision of the manuscript; and to have reviewed the final Technical innovations version of the submitted manuscript and ap- This section include papers looking at novel or new proved it for publication. Authors will be asked to techniques that have been developed or introduced certify that their contribution represents valid to the local setting. The text should not exceed work and that neither the manuscript nor one 1000 words and should include not more than 10 with substantially similar content under their au- figures illustration and references should not be thorship has been published or is being consid- more than 10. ered for publication elsewhere, except as de- scribed in an attachment. 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