According to the council, MBBS will consist of more classes which will focus on mental health, public health, as well as on communication skills.

It is for the first time in the past 21 years that the Medical Council of India (MCI) has decided to bring about a change in the syllabus of MBBS.

MCI reveals to implement the revised syllabus from the next academic year, i.e. 2019.

Changes in syllabus:

1. According to the council, MBBS will consist of more classes which will focus on mental health, public health, as well as on communication skills.
2. The new course will also focus on counselling patients and their relatives about organ donation and making them aware of its benefits.
3. The new course will also comprise of a set of outcome-based classes including attitude, ethics, and communication (AETCOM).

About AETCOM:

1. AETCOM will be introduced to students from the first year
2. It aims to train students on how to communicate with patients and their relatives
3. Apart from this, the MCI officials believe that AETCOM will help to avoid miscommunication between doctors and patients.

Evaluation of students:

Students will be examined as per their ability to handle patient relations.

About MCI:

MCI was established in 1934 under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1933, now repealed, with the main function of establishing uniform standards of higher qualifications in medicine and recognition of medical qualifications in India and abroad.

The number of medical colleges had increased steadily during the years after Independence. It was felt that the provisions of Indian Medical Council Act were not adequate to meet with the challenges posed by the very fast development and the progress of medical education in the country.

As a result, in 1956, the old act was repealed and a new one was enacted. This was further modified in 1964, 1993 and 2001.