Medical curriculum must be revised : PM

Puducherry, June 30, 2012 : The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today emphasised the need for revision of medical curriculum in the country. Addrssing the students and faculties of Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) , in Puducherry at the convocation ceremony he said that we need to revise the curriculum for medical education so that it goes beyond a narrow clinical and technology-driven approach. Students training to be doctors have to be prepared to work with local communities and in our villages.

He said the shortage of doctors is acute in our rural areas and in particular, in the northern, central and eastern regions of the country. Against a desirable rate of 1 doctor per 1000 population we have one doctor per 2000 people. Against a norm of 3 nurses per doctor, we have 3 nurses for every 2 doctors. The centre and the state governments, particularly state governments of the under-served regions, need to put their heads together, prepare strategies and implement urgent measures to remedy the situation.

The PM also pointed his fingures to the quality of medical education is another concern. There is a perception of deteriorating quality. "We cannot allow this situation to continue or to persist. We must put in place a credible regulatory and institutional mechanism to help develop standards in our medical education".

Detailing on the revision of medical curriculum the Prime Minister said that as science and society evolve rapidly in the 21st century, the education of health professionals too must be transformed in precept and practice. Interdisciplinary learning and health system connectivity should, therefore, become the hallmarks of contemporary medical education. Apart from the study of health and disease, knowledge of health economics, ethics, patient rights, behaviour change communication and information technology should inform and influence the design and delivery of our health care systems.

He added that the Medical Council of India is in the process of revising the MBBS curriculum and incorporating training in Community Medicine at all levels.

The Central Government has taken several steps to strengthen medical education in our country. The number of undergraduate and post graduate seats has been greatly increased in the last three years. The Medical Council of India norms have been rationalised and new medical colleges have been opened all over the country.

The Union Health Ministry is taking measures to set up new medical colleges particularly in under-served regions. Under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, construction of 6 AIIMS-like institutions at Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur and Rishikesh is in full swing. The medical colleges are expected to be functional from the academic session 2012-13 and the hospitals by 2013-14, Dr. Manmohan Singh said.