Delhi: Following its objection against the NMC's decision of reducing the ceiling for the hiring of non-MBBS teachers in medical colleges to teach preclinical subjects, the National MSc Medical Teachers' Association (NMMTA) has now sought reforms in postgraduate medical courses in the country.
The association stated that there are no uniform guidelines for medical M.sc courses and the duration of the courses also differs at the concerned universities. Medical M.Sc courses need to be regulated and supervised by a central council, they have urged.
Issuing a statement, NMMTA has sought a unified guideline regarding the duration and the syllabus of the courses. The association also holds the view that the NET syllabus should also be upgraded and more questions from medical M.sc courses should be included.
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The association stated, ever since MCI abandoned these courses, the onus of regulation was left to the respective universities. The mode of admission into these courses also vary. The syllabus, which is modeled after the MD courses have not kept pace with the changing times. These courses are not monitored as MCI(NMC) monitors MBBS/MD courses.
NMMTA Secretary Mr. Arjun Maitra told , " in some institutions the courses are three-year courses while in some others they are of three and more year duration. 2004 UGC guidelines mentioned that these degrees will be of two years but in Manipal and some other universities, the duration of the courses is three or more years. There are huge differences in the courses. We want that there should be a unified course throughout India and we think the courses should have a duration of 3 years. In most of the institutions, MD courses' syllabus is followed but it should be on paper now."
He also added that "CSIR and UGC hold NET exams for Medical M.sc candidates as well but questions come from life science. The topics taught in Medical M.Sc courses are not given due importance. When the medical M.Sc candidates opt for a PhD, they have to give an exam and interview but without NET, it often becomes a problem to secure funds for research." The president of the association, Mr. Shridhar added that the Scientists with Medical M.Sc qualifications, who wish to participate in UGC-CSIR NET exams don't find any of their subjects included in these exams, thus putting them at a disadvantage.
Mr. Mitra also stated that medical M.Sc courses have three disciplines including anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology, and these are taught during the first year of most of the medical M.Sc courses. So questions from these topics should be included more in NET exams."
As per the association, therefore, a need is felt that Medical M.Sc courses need to be regulated and supervised by a central council. These courses should be upgraded
according to the changing times and make them more suitable to address the needs of modern healthcare and medical education. With rooms for minor variations among the universities, the curriculum and syllabus must be uniform and standardized. In fact, these courses must be of 3-years duration, and only recognized medical colleges must be permitted to run them. In tune with MD courses, medical M.Sc courses must be clinically oriented with due exposure of the students to the hospital environment.
Moreover, the curriculum of medical M.Sc courses also should be competency-based. The central council must also register the graduates who offer professional services in healthcare and diagnostic labs. The same council should register the Ph.D of the scientists. Also, only those faculty members, who themselves have earned a Ph.D through research must be allowed to undertake the role of Ph.D guides. Just as the number of MBBS seats in medical colleges is set by the MCI/NMC based on the infrastructure and faculties, the intake of students to Medical M.Sc courses too need to be regulated on the same parameters, the NMMTA said in the statement.
NMMTA also stated, "It is a legit problem that any query made on medical M.Sc courses is directed to the Health Ministry, which in turn forwards it to NMC/MCI, which shrugs off all queries stating that medical M.Sc courses don't come under its purview. Therefore, effectively there is nobody in government which has any policy on these courses. Queries made to the Education and Health Department under the RTI Act have confirmed this. Therefore, this policy paralysis has to end. Both the Education and health ministry must take up these issues together and address all the concerns. NITI aayog can be a facilitator and a catalyst. Unless a central scientific council is formed, the policy paralysis will continue and the conundrum facing the postgraduates will continue eternally."