[Assam] GMC introduces post-doctoral courses (The Assam Tribune Sunday, August 03, 2008 )

[Buljit Buragohain]

GMC introduces post-doctoral courses

By A Staff Reporter
 GUWAHATI, Aug 2 – In a major step towards expansion of medical education in Assam, which also has implications for the region’s healthcare delivery system, the Gauhati Medical College on Friday introduced post-doctoral courses in a number of subjects. 

This would not just produce doctors trained in select super specialties, but in time would help create qualified human resource to offer advanced treatment that till now has only been available in some places outside the state.

The courses which were launched include M Ch in Plastic Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery and DM in Cardiology and Neurology. The Government of India has also permitted M Ch in Neurosurgery to be introduced recently and M Ch in Urology had already started in GMC, two years back. 

Addressing the media and a large number of doctors and students, eminent medical educationist Indrajit Ray, who is also the principal of Medical College, Calcutta, spoke on certain aspects of post doctoral courses and underlined the requirements for those to become effective. 

With the experience of being involved with PG Medical Education Regulation of MCI, he stated the goals and objectives of high-level courses, with occasional references to the medical education scene in Eastern India. Apart from stressing the value of theoretical and practical training, he emphasized the need for doctors to become much more sensitive and ethical in their approach.

Dr Ray dwelt on how medical ethics have become a marginal issue for many among the present generation of doctors in India, a trend he found unfortunate considering the nature of the medical profession, wedded to the ideal of selfless service. 

Expressing his happiness at the launch of the super specialty courses at GMC, he assured all possible help to the doctors of the institution in the near future. 

Principal of Gauhati Medical College, Dr MM Deka, highlighted how the support of doctors and the State Health Department played crucial roles in introducing the advanced courses, and how sophisticated equipment could be acquired and operationalised in a very short span of time. He made special mention of departments such as cardiothoracic surgery and cardiology, now managed by highly skilled human resource backed by state-of-the-art equipment. 

Speaking on the occasion, State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the development as “significant, because for the first time in 60 years since the start of a medical college in Assam, high-level courses like DM and M Ch were introduced.”

Referring to the State’s healthcare needs, he urged the doctors to bear their social and moral responsibility. Being alumni of government hospitals, their education was possible because of public funds which supported institutions such as AMC, GMC and SMC. 

Sarma, while appreciating the good work of a section of doctors, took note of some other doctors who had not taken up their government assignments, following which they were served notices.

Addressing those who had just taken up their post doctoral courses, he asked them to remember that the training leading up to their degrees was possible due to public funding. Therefore, they should not shy away from serving the masses when the opportunity arose in due course.

 (The Assam Tribune Sunday, August 03, 2008 )


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