Bringing about change in the medical system is easier said than done. However, that is precisely what a group of leading doctors in the city are aiming at achieving.
On Saturday, at a meeting arranged by the Moral Re-armament (MRA) — Initiatives of Change, a group of 20-odd intellectuals from various fields of medicine gathered to discuss an issue that affects doctors, students and ultimately, the common man: the shortage of medical professionals in the city’s medical educational institutions.
In the last 15 years, the government has not come up with a single medical college — meanwhile private medical colleges have mushroomed, said the doctors, lamenting the fact that there is a severe paucity of good teachers in medical colleges.
“This is a subject that affects everyone. Without good teachers, students will suffer. And if the new batch of graduating doctors are not good, ultimately, it will be the patient, the common man, who will suffer,” pointed out Dr RK Anand, renowned paediatrician, who chaired the discussion.
“It is high time the Medical Council of India redefines the definition of teacher,” said Dr Sanjay Oak, dean of KEM hospital and medical director, major hospitals. “What matters is the quality of work, whether the teacher is appointed on a full time basis or contractual basis is immaterial,” he continued.
Dr Oak had some radical changes to propose. “Firstly, there should be only one common entry level examination.
Examinations are a huge drain financially as well as emotionally for the students,” he said.
He also proposed that the first year of MBBS, but be increased to 18 months instead of 12 months, which would give students a good opportunity to get acquainted with the syllabus.
“During the second year, they should focus on academics, and not attend wards/hospitals etc,” he added. New subjects such as medical ethics, health economics and research should be a part of the new curriculum, he said.
Dr Oak also suggested doing away with objective/multiple choice questions as well as making rural internship compulsory for all.
“Just one year of anatomy is not adequate. Also, during internship, the students are so busy with exams,” said Dr SV Nadkarni, who has written the book Management of the sick health-care system.
Another unique suggestion from Dr Jyotsna Kirtane, paediatric surgeon, Jaslok hospital, was to ask students to assess teachers every six months. “Unfortunately, unlike what was the case earlier, today, there is no ‘student-bonding’ with the alma mater,” she rued.
“The only way to improve teaching is to get good teachers,” said Dr HG Desai, reputed gastroenterologist.
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