Perspective on medical education in India

Abstract

Medical education was first mentioned in world literature in the Flexner report way back in 1910, while in Indian literature it dates back to the ancient era of Charaka and Sushrutha who had their indigenous way of treating and teaching Medicine. The 22nd century has witnessed major erosions in the field of medical education in our country. The reasons behind the weakening of the system include changes in the thought processes and attitudes of the present generation of students along with changing community requirements, and rapid advancements in medical science and technology coupled with the digital revolution. To cope with the change medical teachers, need to update their method of imparting knowledge and skills to the students. The present curriculum does not provide opportunities to develop soft skills of counseling, communication, empathy, humanity, competence, and professionalism which are the major tenets to be inculcated in every student. In a medical institute, the administrative arm should work along with medical faculty in tandem to complement each other and streamline undergraduate and postgraduate training. The need is to bring back the lost art and science of clinical medicine in a way that’s relevant to the present era of the digital revolution. Strategic changes would be required in medical education along with regulation, appropriate surveillance, and monitoring. There is a need to divert from the traditional, teacher-centered, content-oriented model of education to the student-centered, and outcome-oriented medical education system. Decoupling clinical education from clinical services, case-based approach learning, and emerging digital technologies such as simulation programs integrated into some aspects of skill-based education may be the way forward. Medical education in the country needs to undergo a paradigm shift to make an Indian Medial Graduate at par with an International Medical Graduate, capable of catering to the requirement of health care delivery systems across the boundaries of countries. The status of medical education in the country parallels that of what is global. Most of the medical institutes in the country try to strike a balance among the four pillars of medical academia which are patient care, administrative responsibility, education, and research all in one model. The same has been true for the Nowrosjee Wadia Maternity Hospital and Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital For children, the two premier prestigious institutes built for Women and Children are today completing nine and half decades of meritorious service in the field of clinical service, medical training, and research.