The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : 3 crucial proposals of MCI pending with Centre

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3 crucial proposals of MCI pending with Centre

Special Correspondent

They require amendments to Indian Medical Council Act of 1956

No concept of accreditation of medical education, including medical colleges
MCI concerned about professional updating of doctors

CHENNAI: Three crucial proposals submitted by the Medical Council of India (MCI) relating to accreditation, re-registration and training of doctors and establishment of a UGC-like body in the sector of medical education are still pending with the Union government, MCI officials say.

The three proposals require amendments to the Indian Medical Council Act of 1956 and, therefore, have to be cleared in Parliament, Ved Prakash Mishra, executive member, MCI, said here on Saturday evening.

“We do not have the concept of accreditation of medical education, including medical colleges, in this country. We are still operating in the realm of recognition of medical institutions based on fulfilment of the prescribed requirements governed by the MCI,” P.C. Kesavankutty Nair, president (acting), MCI, explained. This effectively meant complying with the bare minimum regulations and cannot be said to be catering to optimal levels of quality incorporation. The MCI had also worked out a comprehensive model of accreditation through a study group, way back in 2004.

The MCI was also concerned at the issue of professional updating of doctors in the country and had proposed that the concept of re-registration of medical records. Doctors would have to re-register themselves after gaining a certain number of hours through continuing medical education. Though regulations to the effect had been framed, they could not be enforced pending amendments to the main Act, Dr. Mishra said.

The third proposal pending with the government related to the MCI performing a UGC-like role in prescribing service conditions and salary structures for faculty. He recalled that there were two amendments to the parent Act of 1956, in 1993 and 2002. The other recommendations should be passed too, in the interests of medical education.

Dr. Mishra and Dr. Nair were speaking at the platinum jubilee celebrations of the MCI organised by Sri Ramachandra University.

As part of year-long celebrations, the MCI has identified 27 themes to be discussed by medical professionals, teachers, researchers, colleges and universities. The debate is expected to yield valuable suggestions to evolve a national consensus to shape medical policy in India, Dr. Nair said.

Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University Vice-Chancellor Meer Mustafa Hussain said there was a dearth of faculty for basic medical sciences such as anatomy, physiology and bio-chemistry. He suggested that the medical curriculum go back to its mandatory 1.5-year period for training in basic medical sciences.

S. Rangaswami, Vice-Chancellor, SRU, said the university was involved in several faculty development programmes and participating in the national debate initiated by the MCI was a natural fall-out. He added that there was truly a need to restructure medical education, in terms of methods of teaching, practice and consumer demands.

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