Ball set rolling on hiring of non-MBBS as medical college teachers

Ball set rolling on hiring of non-MBBS as medical college teachers

It all began several decades ago when there weren’t enough PG doctors to serve as faculty, official sources explained.

Published: 15th October 2020 09:18 AM | Last Updated: 15th October 2020 09:18 AM 

By Sumi Sukanya dutta  Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Days after the new medical education regulator, the National Medical Commission (NMC), came into existence, it has proposed to formalise the hiring of non-medical grads — those without MBBS — as teachers in medical colleges.

As per the latest “minimum requirements for MBBS admission regulations 2020”, released for public feedback, non-medical teachers can be recruited in six departments — anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and microbiology, biochem and statistician — in the department of community medicine.

Already, up to 30% faculty for first and second year students of various medical colleges are said to comprise those who are not undergrads in medicine because the Medical Council of India (MCI), the previous regulator, did not clearly define it. It all began several decades ago when there weren’t enough PG doctors to serve as faculty, official sources explained.

That was when the MCI allowed MBBS degree holders with a general masters in science to be hired as teachers in medical colleges for non-clinical subjects. “Later, even those without an MBBS degree and holding just an MSc or PhD in life sciences, were hired as faculty in medical colleges in states but the MCI simply ignored the issue,” said a source.

Meanwhile, Dr Satendra Singh, a senior faculty with the University College of Medical Sciences in Delhi, said the advent of competency based medical education meant that the course will now be clinically oriented. As such, teachers must undergo revised basic training, but it has not been explicitly mentioned in the draft rules, he pointed out. 

NMC: Medical experts express concern over evaluation process, necessary infra

As per the proposed norms, every medical college should mandatorily have a physical medicine and rehabilitation department. This branch of medicine, which was optional earlier, aims to enhance and restore functional ability and quality of life to those with physical impairments or disabilities. The draft norms also say that the department of emergency medicine will be mandatory for all medical colleges with effect from the academic year 2022-2023.

Also, the live streaming of both classroom teaching and teaching hospital, shall be integrated as part of the Digital Mission Mode Project of the Commission. Further, the department of radio-diagnosis with MRI machines should be available in all teaching hospitals when annual MBBS intake is 200 or more. The commission, in its maiden proposal has also suggested that all medical colleges will have to make provision to provide accommodation for at least 75% of all students enrolled and interns, and all girl students who request for it.

Dr Singh, meanwhile, also expressed disappointment that there was no mention of diversity and inclusion unit or equal opportunity cell, mandated by the University Grants Commission for students with disabilities, transgender and those from marginalised communities. “Also, there is no provision of counsellor for medical students even though mental health conditions are rising among medical students,” he pointed out.

Public health researcher Dr Oommen John stressed that while impressive advances have been stipulated for recasting medical education and training to enable future medical graduates to discharge their duties in the changing context, several of the requirements are still process oriented and not outcome based. “It is unclear as to how learning outcomes based on core competencies will be evaluated and how the necessary infrastructure will create an enabling environment for the same,” he said. H e added that while the prime minister launched the national digital health mission recently, the NMC’s minimum requirements do not mention the need for an electronic health record system or electronic prescription system.

DVAC raids Tiruvarur DPC, seizes cash, books 4

DVAC raids Tiruvarur DPC, seizes cash, books 4

TNN | Oct 17, 2020, 04.43 AM IST

Trichy: The directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption (DVAC) conducted a surprise raid on a direct procurement centre (DPC) for paddy near Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district, and seized unaccounted money to the tune of Rs 87,000 late on Thursday. The DVAC also registered a case against four people at the DPC.

A team led by deputy superintendent of police, DVAC in Mannargudi, Nandagopal stormed into the state-run DPC at Kannarapettai by 7.30 pm. The officials searched the entire premises, where only a few employees attached to the DPC were present. The raid continued till 11.30 pm.

Police managed to seize Rs 87,790 in cash from the centre. The staffs present at the centre were unable to produce source of the cash. The team also verified the paddy bags piled up on the premises. A total of 150 bags of paddy were brought from another godown. The DVAC counted the bag and handed them over to them.

Nandagopla said that they registered a case against a bill clerk, a quality control inspector (in-charge), a watchman and a man for possession of unaccounted cash.

The raid came at a time when a petitioner moved the Madurai bench of Madras high court recently pleading to the court to instruct the state government to open more DPCs across the state to enable farmers to sell their paddy without incurring any loss. The petitioner also raked up the issue of commission demanded by the staff for taking their produce.

BDU allows research scholars to get co-guide in nearby institutions

BDU allows research scholars to get co-guide in nearby institutions

TNN | Oct 10, 2020, 04.15 AM IST

Trichy: Liberalising its part-time PhD norms, Bharathidasan University (BDU) has allowed scholars employed in other states and countries to get a co-supervisor from a nearby government institution or university.

Usually, the guide has to appoint a co-supervisor at their place of work. However, many are unable to find a co-supervisor within their organisation.

Easing the norms will allow the candidate to look for co-supervisors from the same discipline in the nearby institutions and help them pursue PhD.

There are roughly 1,000 candidates who have registered for part-time PhD programme with the BDU.

“It was a long-pending request from students and supervisors as many candidates working in IT companies and other organisations could not find a co-supervisor of the same discipline with in their organisation,” said registrar G Gopinath.

He cited the example of a senior vice-president of Microsoft working in the US, who wanted to do PhD in BDU, but was unable to find a co-guide or co-supervisor, which was delaying the PhD programme.

Relaxation of norms will help the candidate approach a nearby government institution or university. The candidate needs to get a letter of official guideship from the respective university and it should be forwarded by the head of the institution. The co-supervisor should attend the departmental research committee (DRC) and doctoral committee (DC) meetings in person or through online.

A senior faculty from BDU said that easing of norms should not have been restricted to government institutions alone. “It would have been better had the BDU research committee considered reputed private institutions or universities for the candidates to look for his or her co-supervisor,” said the faculty member.

Research director S Muthusamy could not be reached despite repeated attempts.

IndiGo to charge ₹100 for check-in at airport

IndiGo to charge ₹100 for check-in at airport

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:18.10.2020

IndiGo passengers checking in at airport counters will now have to pay Rs 100 as convenience fee. The airline is the first Indian carrier to introduce such a fee to get more passengers to opt for web check-in as part of a nearcontactless travel experience.

With the country’s largest private airline in terms of domestic market share going down the fee way to discourage counter check-in, it is just a matter of time before most other carriers follow suit, civil aviation officials said.

“The check-in fee is applicable on all bookings, starting October 17. We are committed to take all precautionary measures for a contactless and hassle-free travel experience,” IndiGo said in a statement.

HK bars AI, Vistara flights for this month

Hong Kong has barred Indian carriers — Air India and Vistara — from flying there between October 17 and 30 after some passengers from India tested positive on arrival. This is the third time that Air India has been barred by Hong Kong for the same reason and a first for Vistara. An air bubble will also become operational between India and Bangladesh from October 28. Five Indian and three Bangladesh carriers will link Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai with Dhaka.

Full report on www.toi.in

In Kerala, 385 ‘absentee’ doctors, 20 nurses sacked

In Kerala, 385 ‘absentee’ doctors, 20 nurses sacked

Thiruvananthapuram:  18.10.2020

The health department has issued termination orders to 432 employees, including 385 doctors, citing unauthorized absence from duty. Health minister K K Shailaja said these employees, who were on the rolls, were removed from service following their refusal to report back on duty after their unauthorized absence for years.

“The government was forced to act tough and remove these doctors and para medical staff as the department can’t function efficiently with so many absentees. Those removed had refused to report back even after several reminders. Instructions have been given to authorities concerned to identify more regular absentees and take action against them,” she said.

The doctors removed from service include probationers and confirmed medical officers. Twenty nurses have also been removed from service. Others who were removed from the rolls include health inspectors, pharmacists, filarial inspectors, nursing assistants, dental hygienists, lab technicians, radiographers, optometrists, hospital attendants, record librarians, PHN tutor and clerks. TNN Full report on www.toi.in

4 govt school kids score above 500 in NEET

4 govt school kids score above 500 in NEET

Students Scoring Above 300 Double This Year

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.10.2020

For the first time in the last three years, four students from government and government-aided schools trained by the state-sponsored coaching programme have scored above 500 marks in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). Vasuki from Coimbatore has scored 571 marks out of 720. Sakthevel R and S Naveenkumar St Joseph Higher Secondary School in Chengalpattu scored 552 and 527 marks respectively. Harish from Kovipatti scored 502 marks out of 720. All the students prepared with the help of an online test series by the school education department along with a private company.

The online coaching contained four hours of video lectures and four hours of practice tests everyday. Shathevel R said the revised textbooks and teaching at the school helped him to get high marks in NEET this year. "The online lectures have helped me to prepare the test during the lockdown," he said. Usually, the state board students would find the NEET questions tough. "Since most of the questions were covered by the new textbooks, I found the question paper easy," Shathevel said. His father V Rajendran is as a police constable at Thirukazhukundram police station and his mother Gowri is a housewife.

S Naveenkumar said he prepared with the help of an online test series. "Besides the online test series, I prepared with NCERT textbooks," he said. He started preparation only after his board exams were over and was happy to get 527 marks. His father Sundaramoorthy is a machine operator and mother Dhanalakshmi a housewife.

The number of students getting above 300 marks have also increased by two fold from 32 students last year to 89 this year. Fifteen students have scored between 400 and 500 marks this year.

Kilpauk Medical College Alumni Association has trained differently-abled students from government school this year. Of the 20 students trained and mentored by the association, three have qualified in the exam and are likely to get a medical seat.

N N Dharshana scored 157. "Since I studied in Tamil medium it was difficult for me to get preparation books in Tamil. There weren't many options as in English but I managed and was honestly surprised when the results came, " she said. Dharshana's father is a daily wager and mother a homemaker. "I'm the first in my family who wants to do MBBS. My parents were a bit hesitant at the beginning due to economic reasons, but if I don't get through counselling this year I'll apply next year. I'll keep giving it my best," she said.

No med counselling until NEET bill gets assent: Law minister

No med counselling until NEET bill gets assent: Law minister

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.10.2020

A day after the state government informed the high court that it would not issue prospectus for medical admission till a decision was taken by governor Banwarilal Purohit on the bill to provide 7.5% horizontal reservation to government school students who qualify Neet, law minister C Ve Shanmugam was more forthcoming on Saturday and said that the state would not hold medical counselling until the bill was given assent to by the governor.

The government sent the bill, which was unanimously passed by the legislature, on September 15 and since then there has been huge expectation among the Neet aspirants from government schools.

“The chief minister has taken a good decision that until the governor gives his assent to the bill, the medical counselling will not be held,” Shanmugam said in Villupuram. Shanmugam accompanied chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami while the latter visited Raj Bhavan on October 5 to persuade the governor to give assent to the bill. The government wants to introduce the quota in the current academic year itself.

In Pudukkottai, health minister C Vijayabaskar said that it was the chief minister who was instrumental in introducing the bill in the legislative assembly.

“We are confident of getting the governor’s assent to the bill, which was passed in the assembly,” said the minister, who has been facing the wrath of the opposition for Tamil Nadu students not getting exemption from NEET.

“It is the dream of our CM to get the students of poor families admitted in medical education and he is taking all efforts to get assent to the bill,” school education minister K A Sengottaiyan said.