Gynaec cancer among 18 super-specialities to get medical council nod

CHENNAI: The Medical Council of India has cleared the decks for at least 18 new specialised courses which will equip doctors with the expertise needed to treat ailments that may be beyond their current realm of knowledge. Officials said most of these specialities are meant to treat diseases like gynaecological cancer that were rare some years ago, but are increasingly becoming common.

The general body of the MCI that met in New Delhi on Tuesday resolved to permit five post-graduate courses and 13 super-speciality courses that can be started in medical colleges by 2017. Insitutions offering these courses should have qualified faculty, necessary infrastructure and have to be approved by the Supreme Court-appointed oversight committee.

The academic committee proposed a post-graduate deg ree (MD) in marine medicine, similar to aviation medicine. Several years ago, aviation medicine was recognised as a medical speciality as it combines preventive, occupational, environmental and clinical medicine with the physiology and psychology of man in flight. Like in aviation, travel by sea can also contribute to outbreaks of communicable diseases. It is concerned with the health and safety of all those who fly . Our sea traffic has increased as well. Our naval fleets need similar care, said Bengaluru-based cardiac surgeon Dr Jawali Vivekanand Sidramappa, member of the academic committee. Like in aviation, travel by sea can also contribute to outbreaks of communicable diseases - as there are ships sailing to all corners of the world from India.

Similarly, the committee said MD degrees in laboratory medicine and palliative care were in great demand.Although diseases like cancer are increasingly curable, many continue to pose a challenge. Doctors trained in palliative medicine will be able to offer end-of-life care to patients. A year-long diploma in allergy and clinical medicine has also been agreed up on. Also, with an increase in the incidence of gynaecological cancers - breast, cervical, uterine and ovary - across the country , gynaecologists and oncologists have been demanding specialised courses. The estimated burden of gynecological cancer in 2015 was 160,000, which include 93,000 cases of cervical cancer and 134,000 breast cancer cases.

According to senior oncologist Dr V Shanta from the Cancer Institute, Chennai, cervix, breast and overy cancer cases comprise to 55% of the cases. Post-graduate students in gynaecology and oncology streams can do a specialised course MCh gynaecology oncology . The other super-speciality courses that have been approved by the MCI are DM in clinical immunology and rheumatology, critical care, virology, infectious diseases, neuroradiology , neuroanesthesia, paediatric neurology , paediatric hepatology and paediatric oncology , besides MCh in hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery , vascular surgery and reproductive medicine.

The academic committee has already prepared the requisites, including the qualification and number of staff and infrastructure required, to start these courses. The committee has also recommended that a department of family medicine be started in all medical colleges offering undergraduate courses.

"It is extremely important to bring back the family physicians. Most countries still have them and it is they who refer patients to specialists. When we establish departments and inculcate ideal practices, we may be able to revive them. Slowly , we may even offer post-graduate and super-speciality courses," he said.