Rumours medical students at the University of Otago were not completing their elective placements in Bosnia first arose in mid-2019, but it took three months to gather the evidence needed for a formal investigation, the university has disclosed.
Concerns were reported on Stuff earlier this week about some final year medical students allegedly choosing specific medical centres in Belize, Bosnia and Italy where they could get their placement signed off after a week or less, before going on holiday.
In a "free elective" sixth-year students spend three months on placement, which can be completed overseas.
Allegations have been made a group of students this year have effectively used all or part of their overseas placements as a holiday, lying in interviews, and faking elective reports.
A university spokeswoman said rumours about students not completing placements in Bosnia were brought to the attention of the Dean of the university's Christchurch campus in June, and discussed by the Otago Medical School executive in July.
The conveners of the sixth year or trainee intern year in all three campuses were asked to investigate and report back.
"This involved reviewing where students went, gathering student and supervisor reports from throughout the year and talking to relevant students. Enough evidence was gathered by September to establish the need for a formal investigation," she said.
"The university is taking these concerns seriously, including investigating the extent to which, in these cases, placement expectations may have been different between the university and the students involved."
Each intern receives a $26,756 Government grant covering their training for the whole of the year.
However the spokeswoman said that did not cover fares if students chose to travel to gain practical experience during their electives, and students were not paid by the hospitals or organisations they worked for while overseas.
"The elective allows students to choose how and where they spend 12 weeks of work and study so they can individualise their training ... If they choose an overseas placement, students pay their own fares if they travel, and are not paid by the hospitals or organisations they work for during that time," she said.
The outcome of the investigation - including any implication for future supervision of electives - was expected in two-to-three weeks.
A spokesman for the New Zealand Medical Council said the council would be keeping a "watching brief" on the outcome of the investigation.
"Our expectation is that all medical students would act professionally both in their day-to-day activities, and recording of milestone activities or events while on placements."