The 43rd annual convocation of AIIMS on Sunday October 18th, saw Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Union Health Minister J P Nadda make statements with a focus on improving medical education and practice among doctors.

Mr. Jaitley while addressing students and faculty at the convocation function pushed for relaxation of the medical council and muncipal norms so that the number of medical colleges in India would increase. He said, “We need more medical colleges. Both public and private sector education has expanded. But medical colleges are still inadequate. A review of the policy is required as far as increasing the number of medical schools is concerned.”

He emphasised on creating quality institutions by relaxing muncipal council regulations and also urged the health ministry to not get overly involved or micro-manage the AIIMS institution. In a show of support to AIIMS, Jaitley also announced the recognition of AIIMS as an ‘Institute of National Eminence’ and said 100 per cent tax exemption would be available for any voluntary donation made to the premier institute.

Matching Jaitley’s words was Union Health Minister JP Nadda, who said around 58 district hospitals would be upgraded to medical colleges while 70 medical colleges are being upgraded by adding superspeciality blocks under various phases of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana. However, he did speak in a firm tone against doctors saying respect for doctors was getting “eroded” due to rude behaviour by doctors. He went on to say that, “The increasing number of cases against doctors in consumer courts, the growing complaints of rude behaviour by doctors in private hospitals, the dissatisfaction expressed by patients about lack of human touch in general hospitals are issues that need to be addressed.”

The Health Minister urged doctors to remember the Hippocratic Oath and to show compassion and kindness while treating their patients and asked the medical practioners present at the convocation to re-dedicate themselves to the cause of health care and healing of the sick and the needy.

Here’s the Problem!

Mr. Jaitley’s solution to increase the number of medical colleges to provide quality education is wrongly placed. Increasing colleges will increase the number of doctors yes, but there is no guarantee of quality. In order for better quality to become a part of medical colleges- quality education, internships and research opportunities have to be made available. Simply put it is the QUALITY that needs to be improved more than the QUANTITY or numbers.

Mr. Nadda’s statements on how doctors are behaving rudely with patients leading to an ‘erosion’ in the value for doctors and even telling doctors to remember their Hippocratic Oath shows a complete lack of seeing the ground realities.By simply putting the blame on doctors that patients are losing respect because of rude behaviour paints a wrong picture. Mr. Nadda needs to understand the other side where doctors are being slapped, fondled, mobbed, clinics being ransacked and openly threatened without strict action being taken against attackers. In the past week alone there have been 3 cases of attacks on doctors and 1 case where a female MBBS student was even molested. How about understanding that respect for a doctor doesn’t mean the same thing as safety! Doctor safety is a ‘real’ problem that goes much beyond respect for them. By providing physical security (government or private) as well as security systems (CCTV and emergency response options for doctors under attack) it shows ‘respect’ and

So in addressing the 43rd convocation at AIIMS, Mr. Arun Jaitley and JP Nadda conveyed parting messages to the graduating class of doctors. However the correct message should have also included the above points on – quality medical education and doctor safety. Only then can these speeches made at the AIIMS convocation make any sense, otherwise it is a wrong method to improve medical education and even worse portrayl of doctors in bad light!

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Original Article: Indiatoday.in

Image Credits : Indiatoday.in

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