MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.

No. 6191—1R.-9.

FROM

      THE HON'BLE COLONEL A. O. EVANS, I.M.S.,

                                  Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Burma,

To

      THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF BURMA.

                                                    Dated Rangoon, th 29th May 1915.

SIR,

      I have the honour to submit herewith the Annual Report on the working
of the Burma Government Medical School for the period of one year ending the
31st March 1915.

      2. It has not been customary in previous years for me to review the Report
of the Burma Medical School, but I consider the time is now ripe for me to
comment briefly on the working of this institution.

      3. The school year commenced with 61 students on the rolls of whom 33
(including 3 females) were Burmese, 3 Chinese, 24 Indians (including 1 female)
and 1 Anglo-Indian (a female). This number includes 5 students (including 1
female) belonging to the Mahomedan religion.

      4. During the year, 20 new public students instead of 10, the number
sanctioned for previous years, together with 6 private students, were selected.
Several of these public students, withdrew, having apparently found more suitable
or lucrative prospects elsewhere. Considerable inconvenience resulted since the
selection of substitutes had to be effected hurriedly, and even then the new
candidates were only able to join the class after school work had commenced.

      5. The majority of students available for selection do not, unfortunately,
possess the necessary educational qualifications, and it is evident that the present
pay and prospects of the Sub-Assistant Surgeons' service do not attract the better
educated and more capable youths. The result is that Lecturers and Teachers
are handicapped in their work, and it seems clear that the school is not likely to
make the full progress desired, unless and until the future prospects of that
service are improved.

      6. Appreciable alterations and improvements were made to the school
buildings during the year in order to accommodate the increased numbers of
students. The wants of the students in respect to recreation and games have
been carefully attended to.