Medical education during challenging times

Abstract

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to greater disruption to Medical Education in the Southeast Asian Region (SEAR) in 2021, compared to 2020. The catastrophic increase in the number of cases in countries such as India and Sri Lanka has overwhelmed national health systems. Mitigation and management of the increased disease burden have led to drastic reductions in elective procedures and routine work, with concurrent reduction of traditional learning opportunities. Depending on need and availability, inpatient wards and ambulatory care centers have been converted to COVID-19 treatment centers, reflecting how management of the COVID-19 outbreak has become a national priority in many countries in the region.