Non-clinical courses turn less attractive

Big bucks, fewer hours of work and innumerable job opportunities seem to be driving several MBBS doctors to pursue a PG degree in clinical courses. As a result, courses in the non-clinical category like anatomy, pharmacology, physiology, forensics, community medicine, pathology, bio-medicine and microbiology appear to be receiving step-motherly treatment.

The reason for the lukewarm response to non-clinical PG medical courses is the lack of enough opportunities and low pay. Explaining the situation, former Madras Medical College dean Dr V Kanagasabai said, "One of the main reasons why people choose to become a doctor is because they can save lives and treat patients.However, these are the important things that a non-clinical course would lack. While these graduates can excel in teaching and research or even practise general medicine, there is no direct contact with patients." There is little motivation for candidates to go for a nonclinical degree as the pay is much low compared to those in specialised fields and chances of getting promoted early are not great either, he added.

Another reason for graduates shying away from non-clinical courses is the lack of opportunities, said Doctors' Association for Social Equality general secretary Dr G R Ravindranath. "Earlier, the retirement age of medical teachers was 70. Now, MCI has decided to extend it to 75 which will easily rob the job opportunities for any young doctor who wants to teach. Apart from affecting the job and promotions of young doctors, it will lead to depression and frustration among young doctors," he said.

Doctors explained that a couple of decades ago, in an effort to attract talent in the non-clinical side, the MCI and state governments offered high salaries and also offered promotions to them much earlier than doctors in specialized fields. However, nowadays, the scales had been equalized and there was nothing to push candidates to pick non-clinical courses.

Pay and promotion aside, some candidates feel that some non-clinical specialities demand long work hours and involve a lot of stress. "For example, there is a huge shortage of forensic experts in our state. But if I opt to study forensics, I would end up spending the better part of my day cutting up bodies when I can use the same time to treat live people," said a candidate who picked a PG course in dermatology .

Unless, the MCI decides to step in and change matters, the situation for non-clinical courses would remain dismal, said Dr Kanagasabai. "MCI has to understand that these very courses are the building blocks of medical education and they need their due," he said.