India. Teaching of population dynamics and family planning in the curriculum of undergraduate medical education.

Abstract

It is of great importance that the young Indian doctor be well informed on different aspects of population problems and family planning programs in order to give responsible leadership to his patients. Teaching of family planning in medical colleges has been a major problem for medical educators for various reasons. This difficulty has been intensified with the increase in the number of medical colleges. India is facing acute shortages of specialists and medical teachers. Coordination of an integrated approach is beset with many difficulties especially in medical curriculum. A survey conducted by Rice in 1966 showed that the medical colleges in India were assigning 5 to 6 times as many hours to the lectures discussion and demonstration on population dynamics family planning programs conception control techniques and related social cultural educational and motivational aspects as compared to an average medical school in the West. The Medical Council of India has promoted family planning teaching and services in medical colleges since 1957. A Conference of Deans and Principals of Medical Colleges was organized by the Ministry of Health Family Planning and Urban Development in August 1967 and made recommendations and suggestions on teaching family planning in medical colleges. On the recommendations of the Central Council of Health a committee has been constituted to examine the entire medical curriculum and to see whether it meets the present needs of the country as well as the modern advances in the health science.