MCI approves 3-and-a-half-yr medical course

Kounteya Sinha TNN 

New Delhi: The Medical Council of India (MCI) has finally cleared the introduction of the three-and-a-half-yearlong medical course. To be called BSc in community health, it will be open to anybody after Class 12. 
    Speaking to TOI, MCI board chairman Dr K K Talwar said this special cadre of health workers will be trained mainly in district hospitals, be placed in sub-centres or primary health centres and will be taught “some module of clinical work”. This means this cadre can diagnose and treat basic medical cases, get involved in immunization programmes and administer extended first aid. 
    “We intend to introduce the course from April next year. This cadre will also refer patients according to their condition to other centres. We have also prepared the syllabus of the course. The ministry will now take the final call,” Dr Talwar said. Health secretary P K Pradhan has called a high level meeting on Tuesday to finalize the proposal. 
    The Planning Commission’s high level expert group has strongly backed the new health cadre and said that as a career progression incentive, they should be promoted to the level of public health officers after 10 years of service. 
    The committee envisages that by 2022, India should have colleges teaching BSc community health in all districts with populations of over five lakh. The health ministry has been strongly pushing for the introduction of this cadre to tackle the menace of doctors unwilling to serve in rural areas. 
    Only 26% of doctors in India reside in rural areas, serving 72% of India’s population. Urban density of doctors is nearly four times that of rural areas, and that of nurses is three times higher. 
    Experts said the selection of students would be based on merit in the Class 12 examination with physics, chemistry and biology as subjects. 
    Health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had earlier said that he wanted an MCI stamp on the degree so that it was universally recognized. 
    “The syllabus of the course is also ready and is need-based. If MCI endorses it, students will get the confidence that the degree has a standing,” he had said.

The syllabus of the course is also ready and is need-based. If MCI endorses it, students will get the confidence that the degree has a standing Ghulam Nabi Azad HEALTH MINISTER

 

Source::: The Times of India, 24-09-2012, p.8. http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW