The MBBS curriculum has included a programme known as, attitude, ethics and communication (AETCOM) to improve doctors’ responsiveness to the sensitivities of patients and families.
This new curriculum will contain elective subjects that students can choose the subjects of their liking and dedicate their time accordingly.
Anatomy, which encompasses most of the syllabus in the first year, will now involve medical mannequins as well as, models for clinical learning. As a result, apart from human cadavers, emphasize will also be given to virtual models for the learning process.
According to sources, this step requires sweeping upgrading of systems and infrastructure across medical colleges in the country, as pedagogy of teaching will be completely be modified by the process.
‘This will pose a major challenge and the transition is not going to be easy,’ said a source, who wishes his identity not to be disclosed. ‘The present system of learning is based on the fact that it is a human body which is diseased and has to be cured. Emotions and sensitivity are not part of the teaching,’ the source added.
Nursing home and hospitals deal with sickness and death and a responsible response to these situations are important on the part of doctors, or for all hospital officials as a matter of fact. Trauma cases in case of road traffic accidents, organ transplants, child birth, victims of disasters, of any kind of violence needsdelicate handling. Communication between doctors and patients’ family needs to be helpful and trustworthy in all cases.
After 21 long years the Board of Governors of the Medical Council of India have revised the syllabus. Among other changes, clinical exposure is decided begin from the first year (earlier it started from second year), and a month-long foundation course is also going to be introduced.
However, theproficiencies and communication skills which are going to be part of the training practice in hospitals and a part of the MBBS curriculum is a remarkable step and will begin in all hospitals from August 2019.
