Mysuru: From August this year, the students getting enrolled to MBBS will have a new curriculum. After nearly 21 years, the curriculum has received makeover after the Medical Council of India (MCI) revising the syllabus for the Bachelors degree programme in Medicine. The new curriculum will be focusing on skill-based and hands on training. Earlier, more emphasis was laid on theory but the revised syllabus will focus more on practicals. Few days ago, the MCI trained the HoDs and Professors of Mysuru Medical College Research and Institute on the new curriculum.
C P Nanjaraj, Director and Dean of Mysuru Medical College Research and Institute, said “The previous curriculum was theory based. For example, after reading Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, they used to write exams and After one and half years they used to come for clinical. However, now with the revised curriculum, they will come directly for clinical. Now, from day 1 itself, students will be posted to clinical side. Once the students complete MBBS, they should be ready. If they do not know about a very rare disease, it is fine but they should be aware of the common diseases in the country.”
“Information on new diseases have been included while the irrelevant chapters not needed for general practice have been removed. Few days ago, MCI trained the teachers of Mysuru Medical College Research and Institute. The undergraduate medical syllabus was last revised in 1997. It was heavy on theory, especially in Anatomy, Pathology and Physiology. Students acquired clinical experience at hospital from the third year, earlier. The new curriculum will have students observing treatment at hospitals in their first year itself. With the new system, student assessment will also be changed. Earlier, they used to write theory and practicals each for 300 marks. Now the marks will be allotted based on aptitude, skill and orientation. MCI was forced to change the curriculum due to lack of updates among students. With the present system, though students are knowledgeable, when they are put to work especially in rural areas, their lack of practical knowledge is getting exposed. Hence, keeping all this in mind, to make medical students more skillful, MCI after nearly six years, managed to revise the syllabus”, added Dr. Nanjaraj.
