Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 17 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 4

Written Answers. - Doctor Training.

John Bruton

Ceist:

171 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of time devoted in the curriculum, followed by doctors trained here, in the study of nutrition so as to enable them to offer advice to patients on this matter; if the time devoted to pharmacology would exceed that devoted to nutrition; and if so the reason in this regard. [14503/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The training of doctors takes place at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The amount of time devoted by individuals to any particular subject is difficult to assess on the basis that it can vary depending on what the doctor is being trained for. Generally, more time is devoted to the core subjects on the curriculum of which pharmacology is one.