Professional Exchange Program

Messina, Italy
By: Dinda Ines Secsaria

Professional Clinical Exchange program

activities conducted in August 2017 as an
elective block hosted by SCOPE IFMSA is a
very valuable and unforgettable experience for
me. I got a lot of new experiences that I have not
got in Indonesia, besides I also got the
opportunity to study the health system in Italy, especially in Messina, and met with 33
other incoming from various countries in the world. I held a one-month exchange
program in Messina, Italy. Messina is one of the largest cities located at the very
northern tip of Sicily, Italy. The only university in the city, the Universita degli Studi

Di Messina is a typical "religious" university, a

Jesuit College, founded in 1548. The medical faculty at the university has its main
hospital Policlinico Universitario "G. Martino "which was the hospital where I was
performing this exchange program. My department was Obstetrics and Gynecology
(Dipartimento in Ginecologia E Ostetricia).
I chose this department because I want to someday continue the Obstetrics and
Gynecology specialization. Therefore doing exchange on this department is a great
opportunity for me to get to know more about Obstetrics and Gynecology and be my
provision to prepare for my future. In Messina this clerkship activity is held for 16
days with work schedule from Monday to Friday. As a student exchange every day is
required to follow this program for 5 hours from 08.00-13.00, but in the department I
do not necessarily do it for 5 hours due to an uncertain operating schedule. Sometimes
there are many operations in one day or several major operations that can take up to 3-
4 hours per operation. And other times did not reach full 5 hours due to ineffective
working time in hospital during summer because many doctors and other staff who
take time off for vacation so that hospital only do action for emergency case only. In
addition to work in the hospital, there are also social programs that are held every
weekend.
The first day of my clerkship at the hospital is on Wednesday, August 2, 2017.
Before going to each department, all incomings are grouped by department and each
department is guided by one person from the exchange committee to meet with the
supervisor doctor. After meeting with the supervisor's doctor, I was immediately
allowed to follow the course of the accidental operation at the time of the caesarean
section and since I was in the obstetrics and gynecology department, I was required to
wear scrubs and slippers. Every morning after I wore scrubs and slippers, I entered the
operating room to see the timetable operations to be performed, the type of surgery,
the doctor responsible for performing the surgery. After that before entering the
operating room, I washed my hands and put on PPE. After the surgery is completed,
usually held a small discussion about the
surgery that has just done, about the
patient's illness, subsequent treatment
and I was taught sewing techniques and
also make a knot. In addition to
following the course of the operation,
every day I was allowed to follow the visitation of patients in the inpatient room.
During this program I was accompanied by a resident or midwives who explained
about the procedure performed during the operation, even with minimal use of the
English language. The number of cases handled daily is not so much. I often found
cases of patients who give birth to caesarean sections or even cases of interrupting a
pregnancy voluntary or involuntary. I am very interested to always learn every detail
of procedure done in helping natural delivery, cesarean section, abortion and many
cases from gynecology because I have not been able to have such rare opportunity in
Indonesia.
The striking difference that I have encountered between health systems in Italy
and in Indonesia is that there is no difference in the health services provided by each
patient. All patients receive the same services and facilities without any class
distinction as in Indonesia. That's because they have all been covered by health
insurance taken from their basic salary every month, so they do not have to worry
about the cost during hospitalization. In addition, there is not too much difference
between the length of medical education S1 in Messina with Indonesia is six years. In
addition, the length of education of specialist doctors were also the same about 4-5
years. Following this exchange scope makes me more open minded and learn to be
independent.in addition to a clerkship in the hospital, the activity program arranged by
the committee is very fun. Started from welcoming dinner, karaoke party,
international food and drink party, lanterns party to farewell party. I can also knew
and learnt about other cultures with such amazing friends. Truly this last month doing
an exchange program is a lifetime memories.