In 1956, the four-year-old republic of India replaced the colonial Indian Medical Council with the Medical Council of India (MCI). This institution was meant to guide the young republic in establishing a modern system of medical education and developing the human resources to provide the most appropriate medical care to all citizens.
India is a country with the highest number of medical colleges in the world and produces close to 30,000 doctors and 18,000 specialists. Over the years, the field of medicine has been considered as one of the most coveted professional education in the country. It is also known for being one of the longest and most expensive courses, yet millions of parents in India foster a dream for their children – to be a doctor. It is considered to be a noble profession. However, a distinctive feature of medical education is that a large part of learning occurs in practice settings and on-the-job training.
The Indian medical education scenario has always been under question due to controversies and conflicts that keep running around it. The current scenario states that India today has one seat for every 26,000 people including government and private colleges which are better than what it was in the nineties, but the medical education system still faces challenges that need reforms.
Future of medical education
Today, the Indian medical education system is poised to take on competency based education and is awaiting the green signal from the Medical Council of India. These competencies can range from patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism and system based practice.
It was felt that medical professionals in the 21st century should focus more on improving community health. The Canadian medical education directives for specialists became a widely known framework of seven roles and was adopted in many countries. The educational strategy of competency based medical education is based on evidence, data and research. This will help teachers and administrators to make informed decisions about initiatives that improve learner performance on various levels.
The MCI
The Medical Council of India is responsible for maintaining and establishing high values of medical education of India. A few reforms in the recent past have been implemented in order to benefit the education system. Some of them are:
Introduction of foundation course for the first two months before beginning the first year course for students
Early clinical exposure
Investing in technology for strengthening medical institutions
Current scenario and trends
According to a recent KPMG report on health manpower crunch, the situation is such that India needs to commission 550 medical colleges – 100 seats per college right away to meet the global average by 2030. India is one of the few countries in the world that continues to invest heavily in undergraduate medical education. With many medical colleges operating in the private sector, India can boast of the largest number of medical schools in the world.
The present system of education follows a principle where each subject has its own frame. The disadvantages of such a system is that there are limited connect in the approach and replication of syllabus which eventually leads to confusion in students’ minds. An integrated approach, however, provides a better learning experience and promotes a holistic approach when dealing with patients.
One of the main areas of focus remains research. Research based medical learning technology is essential for helping medical students for their future. Institutions should pay attention towards these changing modes. The scope of technology applications in the medical education system in India is poised to make dramatic changes at every level.
Innovation is the key to deliver affordable healthcare to all. Just as it is in the case with other fields, entrepreneurship plays a key role in medical education as well. Path breaking innovations when combined with clearly chalked out strategies can transform the very fundamentals of medical education. Technological advances require medical institutions to include more modules around innovations in medical entrepreneurship by partnering with technology incubators that are thriving with young talent as well as tie ups with industries and external agencies.
The importance of research in medical education cannot be stressed enough. Students should be introduced to research from the start of the course. The onus of building a curriculum with strong focus on research is on the educators. It is a small step in making medical education in India futuristic and more relevant to the changing dynamics in our country
Medical Technology or ‘Med Tech’ as it is popularly called these days requires students to upgrade their skills almost on an everyday basis. An undergraduate medical degree is no longer considered as a source of lasting knowledge. Keeping this in mind many apex bodies like National Academy of Medical Sciences work towards keeping health professionals well-informed about the latest developments in their respective fields.
Challenges in medical education
One of the biggest challenges faces in India is the absence of a regulatory body that enlists qualities and competencies that are expected in a doctor or any medical practitioner. The glaring gap between the requirement and availability of health care providers, especially in the rural areas is the main reason we are not able to achieve the coveted status of ‘Health for all’
The evaluation system also needs to be looked at from a more practical approach. Rote learning is the thing of past. Students need to be adept to handle any challenge that arises during the course of treatment. The true demonstration of skills especially in the medical field is seen in the ease with which a student can handle herself/himself on ground.
Conclusion
The true measure of success for education is seen when a student is able to excel and make a difference in the field of study undertaken. In a medical setting, if a doctor is able to provide quality healthcare and contribute to research and development. Integrating research in curriculum should be the prime focus in order to build the next generation of health care experts in our country.
Healthcare is one of the major sectors contributing to the economic growth of our country and with India growing to be a major hub for medical tourism, it is imperative for educational institutes to focus their energies on building a talent pool that is dynamic, collaborative and ready to take on challenges with a positive stride.
(The author is Pro-Vice Chancellor (Health Sciences), Manipal University)