The Central Government and the Medical Council of India (MCI) have approved the launch of post-graduate diploma courses that can be undertaken after completing MBBS.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a gazette notification to introduce post-graduate diploma courses in eight medical specialties under the National Board of Examinations on August 6. The move has been welcomed by medical experts from across the country, with eminent cardiac surgeon, Dr Devi Shetty, terming it a radical reform in higher medical education.

These training programs can be conducted by all well-equipped public or private hospitals, with more than 100 beds and senior medical specialists among the staff. The diploma two-year courses will be in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Anesthesiology, Tuberculosis and Chest Disease, Radio Diagnosis, Family Medicine, Ophthalmology and ENT.

Dr Shetty stated that the need for more post-graduate seats has long been felt. Every year, nearly 1,70,000 doctors appear for the NEET post-graduate exam, applying for around 50,000 post-graduate seats (including 15,000 non-clinical seats).The remaining 1,20,000 doctors who do not get one of the seats won’t return to clinical work. They may end up spending two to five years attending coaching classes and may even give up on becoming doctors. Introducing a few thousand seats in post-graduate diploma courses will bring these doctors back to patient care. Dr Shetty added that the introduction of diploma two-year PG courses could draw at least 30,000 to 40,000 doctors in the mainstream to treat patients.

Dr Alexander Thomas, President of the Association of National Board of Accredited Institutions, stated that the diploma courses will make a difference to handle the shortage of doctors in these specialities, especially in rural areas.

Dr Giridhar Gyani, Director General of the Association of Health Care Providers of India, said that a majority of public hospitals, particularly in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, face an 80% shortage of medical specialists. If these hospitals introduce diploma courses in these specialities, the shortage of medical specialists can be compensated in two to four years’ time.

Dr Pawananindra Lal, Executive Director of the National Board of Examinations, has stated that they have found a space to introduce the diploma courses. The course is available at a nominal cost, and the doctors canalso earn a stipend during the program.

According to experts, post-graduate students work on the frontline, under the guidance from their seniors. As district hospitals introduce post-graduate training courses, the quality of healthcare in small towns will see a dramatic change… (The Indian Express)

Source: The Indian Express