Third-level colleges have begun talks with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) about changes to the entry system for medical courses which could lead to a significant reduction in points.
The HEA has been discussing with colleges the idea that a large portion of students would enter medicine after first completing a course in life sciences, rather than upon leaving school.
The hope is this could reduce the large number of students entering medicine immediately after school, which pushes points up. If the talks proceed rapidly the new course could come on stream within the next year or two.
The talks are at an early stage, but sources said the colleges are open to the suggestion of using a life sciences course as a route to a medical qualification.
The Points Commission report - released earlier this year - said such a step could reduce the points levels for medicine and promote an interest in science, which is currently in significant decline.
The idea being discussed would involve a portion of those taking life sciences going on to become doctors. The Irish Medical Organisation has said such an approach would be welcomed by many students, who can be nervous about committing themselves to medicine as soon as they leave school.
However, the Points Commission report and the HEA in its submission to the commission point to one difficulty - those who do not succeed in entering medicine from the life sciences course may "feel they have wasted their time".
In line with long-established patterns, medicine topped the table for Central Applications Office (CAO) points again this year. Trinity College's course at 570 points (which included random selection) was the highest placed, with medical courses at UCD, UCC and NUI Galway, which experienced a 10-point rise, also near the top of the list.
The Labour Party spokeswoman on health, Ms Liz McManus, said yesterday the Government needed to review the number of places available in medicine. She said this was urgently needed because a shortage of doctors and consultants was causing long delays and hardship for hundreds of patients.
She added: "At present hundreds of pupils, with a real commitment to a medical career, are excluded because of the incredibly high number of points needed."
According to CAO figures, 5,872 people applied for a place on a medical course this year, with only 407 receiving a first-round offer. Few second-round offers are expected to be issued in this area on September 4th.
"The current staffing crisis will plague our health system for years to come if action isn't taken now. Indeed, plans by the NHS in Britain to recruit 7,500 extra consultants will place even more pressure on our health services," Ms McManus said.
"Expanding the number of places for medicine at third level is an imperative. We also need a response to the increasing number of graduates who fail to practise medicine in Ireland after graduation."
While an increase in the number of graduates from medical schools would ease shortages, according to medical sources, one of the major problems is that many doctors - up to 20 per cent - leave the profession once they qualify.