Just 40% of current medical students definitely plan to stay and practise in Ireland following their intern placement, a new survey has revealed.

Meanwhile, more than one-third are ‘unsure' whether they will stay or go elsewhere, the survey by the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has found.

According to IMO president, Dr John Duddy, these findings indicate that the ‘reputation of the Irish healthcare system is in shreds among our interns'.

"Confidence is at an all-time low, so much so that without even having graduated from medical school, they are already packing their bags for foreign shores and are ruling out Ireland as the place where they wish to practise," he commented.

He insisted that successive governments have failed to tackle the problems within the healthcare system and as a result, they are ‘effectively stamping the passports of our brightest young doctors and handing their talents and expertise to other countries'.

"If we allow this to continue and do not create a positive and progressive environment for doctors to pursue their careers, the outcome will be detrimental to the future of healthcare in this country. The result will be more pressure on the system, less doctors and ultimately more hardship for patients," Dr Duddy added.

The survey was carried out among a sample of medical students who are shortly due to begin their medical rotation in hospitals nationwide.