The National Medical Commission (NMC) has announced an important update to the Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) framework for MBBS programs, incorporating the Attitude, Ethics, and Communication Module (AETCOM). This initiative, initially developed by the former Medical Council of India (MCI), is designed to enhance the ethical and communicative competencies of medical students throughout their education.
The AETCOM aims to embed principles of bioethics and law into medical practice and research, fostering a more holistic approach to medical education. It is structured as a longitudinal program, integrated across all phases of the MBBS curriculum, including internships. This ensures that students engage with the module continuously, rather than in isolated segments.
Key Features of the AETCOM
Under the new guidelines, students will participate in a variety of educational activities designed to build their ethical and communication skills. These include small group discussions, patient care scenarios, self-directed learning, workshops, seminars, role plays, and both large and small group teachings. The module emphasises the use of application-based subject-oriented cases and real-life community-based case studies, particularly for aspects of health education, informed consent, and counselling.
Attendance is crucial to the AETCOM program’s success. Students must achieve at least 75% attendance in AETCOM sessions to be eligible to sit for the 36 university examinations across all subjects in each phase of their MBBS program.
Educational Objectives
The AETCOM has several objectives aimed at enhancing students’ overall medical competencies:
1. Vertical Integration: Early phases of the module focus on integrating basic science concepts with clinical practice. Later phases build on this foundation, emphasising clinical reasoning and system-based care.
2. Empathy and Human Values: Students are encouraged to apply empathy and human values in patient care and to communicate effectively with patients, families, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals.
3. Understanding Alternative Medicine: The module aims to foster an understanding of the strengths and limitations of alternative medicine systems.
4. Professionalism and Growth: Students are trained to respond to events and issues professionally and humanely and to translate their learning from the humanities into both professional and personal growth.
