Problems of medical education in India

Abstract

Background: Indian medical education system is one of the largest in the world. Medical colleges in India have rapidly proliferated in the past 25 years, doubling since 1980 for a current total of 422, each associated with university, producing 52565 MBBS doctors each year. Medical education is facing problems and challenges for quality education in the countries. Article is an attempt to identify and analyze the current problems and challenges of medical education in India. Methods: Cross-sectional data collected over a period of three months from September 2015 to December 2015 from various sources including medical colleges regarding problems of medical education have been analysed and discussed in details to find out the possible solutions and actions required at regulatory authority including Government, institutions, administration, faculty and medical students. Results: To achieve doctor- patient ratio, Indian Government is emphasizing to increase admission and training of medical students. One third of these doctors leave India every year for residency training and/or practice abroad. The quality of Indian medical education and of physicians it produces therefore has implications for entire world. An exploding number of medical colleges; a skewed distribution of these around the country; devaluation of merit in admission, particularly in private institutions; increasing capitation fees; admission of suboptimal quality of students with poor motivation; an alarming shortage of medical teachers, with those who exist being untrained in modern teaching learning technology; great shortage of patients/ clinical materials in many institutions; outdated curriculum; a less than desirable evaluation system and poor internship supervision all contribute to this downhill trend. Accreditation by Medical Council of India (MCI) emphasizes documentation of infrastructures and resources with doubtful assessment system. Conclusions: Discussion of all medical problems and challenges faced in medical education required to be addressed at various levels. Roles of Government, accreditation system, institutions and faculty, legal issues including selection of medical students are required to address the problems.