NACP III and Medical Education

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum:

I would like to flag the issue of medical education as important in the process

of formulating the next phase of the National AIDS Control Program.

As of July 19th, the Medical Council of India lists 242 medical colleges in the

country (never mind some of the listed ones that do not have approvals for

taking students). It is this constituency, and its output of graduates, that

forms the backbone of the treatment services eventually, for HIV, as for other

health issues.

It would be very useful if there were specific guidelines within NACP III that

involved the Medical Council of India in directing the medical education

establishments to accommodate an increased focus on HIV, not just in the

Departments of Medicine and Dermatology & Venereal Diseases, but also in

Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Surgery and Community Medicine.

A total of at least 25 hours of instruction distributed over the

abovementioned faculties over the course of the 2nd and 3rd MBBS levels would be

a very good step in forming a good understanding of HIV in the emerging medical

personnel.

This could be reinforced in the only way that makes sense to an overburdened

student: At least one question related to HIV in any 2 of these subjects at the

professional exams!

Apart from looking at the MBBS levels, each of the departments mentioned above,

in their post graduate training programs need to devote time to a better

understanding of the problem, and its management.

The easiest request would be to form a specialty training program:

That would be counter productive. HIV management needs to be undertaken in the

context of the presenting illness / problem, which means in the OB / Gyn clinic,

or the Pediatrics department or the Surgery.

I hope this is something that our planners are working on.

Regards,

Bobby

BOBBY JOHN

bj@...

5, Chandan Gardens

NIBM Road, Kondhwa

Pune 411 048, India

E-mail: <bj@...>