GMC updates guidance for disabled medical students

The General Medical Council (GMC) is to issue new guidance to ensure that disabled students are treated fairly when pursuing a medical career.

The updated guidance, Gateways to the Professions: Advising Medical Schools, Encouraging Disabled Students, will request that provisions are made to remove any unfair barriers that disabled medical students may face whilst studying.

The guidance was reviewed following research that revealed disabled students are under-represented in medical schools; according to admissions records, less than 6% of medical students who enrolled in 2009 have a disability.

The GMC worked in partnership with representatives of medical schools and disability experts in reviewing the guidance, which incorporates advice set out in its Tomorrow's Doctors (2009) guidance and requirements of the Equality Act 2010.