MBBS in Hindi may harm National Interest in Long Run: FAIMA

New Delhi: The Central Government's proposal for commencing MBBS education in Hindi language continues to receive backlash from the medical fraternity as several doctors are of the opinion that the decision might result in worsening the quality of medical education in India.

In a recent Press Release, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has also expressed similar opinion regarding the initiative and has expressed the possibility that MBBS in Hindi might harm the national interest in the long run. Referring to the Hindi vs English debate that has been going on in the country for a long time, FAIMA mentioned in the release, "The moot point here is producing world class doctors to serve our people while simultaneously ensuring that the services sector is strengthened as doctors from India are serving in different countries contributing to the prestige of our country."

Therefore, alleging that the recent push by the Central Government towards Hindi translation of medical textbooks is a policy framed with good intent but bad planning, FAIMA added, "The current issue of Hindi translation of medical textbook is fraught with many problems. Primary among them is the standardisation of medical lexicon into Hindi and producing a set of doctors who will always face some issues while mingling with their peers abroad. While the example of some European countries is given to justify the step we tend to forget that India is known world over for its booming BP0 sector which was possible only because of thrust on English language."

"We need to view English as a medium of communication rather than a colonial relic as some tend to do. The move ought not to be taken in haste without proper standardisation and planning. Harping on Hindi translation as the means of cultural emancipation is a mistake. We need to strengthen the medical education sector especially when the transition from the erstwhile MCI to NMC is still in the works. The medical education sector needs a push towards research and innovation of highest level rather than the deep dive into cultural chauvinism," the release further read.

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This Hindi vs English controversy in the medical education sector began after the Union Government proposed implementing Hindi or egional languages as a medium of instruction for professional courses including MBBS. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about the recent announcement about introducing MBBS education in Hindi in the State of Madhya Pradesh. As per the decision three MBBS subjects- anatomy, physiology and biochemistry- would be taught in Hindi to first-year MBBS students in all 13 government medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh.

Besides, it was decided that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah would launch the first-year MBBS textbooks, which have been translated from English into Hindi, during a programme at Motilal Nehru Stadium on Sunday.

However, a section of doctors are not happy with the Government's move and in this regard, earlier FAIMA had stated that the step will take the country 50 years behind in the coming 10 years.

Explaining its stand on the matter, FAIMA mentioned in the recent release, "Hindi as a language has its usage as the lingua franca of this diverse nation and that was precisely what the makers of modern India viewed it to be. The reckless move to push towards Hindi as a medium in every sphere will harm the national interest in the long run."

Referring to the issue, a doctor cum social activist shared the release by FAIMA and mentioned in a recent Tweet, "It's not only that, you start the curriculum in one local language then every state will follow the same. As a doctor, it is imperative to communicate in local language for better rapport with the patient BUT changing the language of syllabus will have long term adverse effects."

Speaking to Medical Dialogues in this regard, Dr. Rohan Krishnan, the President of FAIMA said, "Its very pathetic and sad. It is going to affect the students adversely. Medical education needs to be at par with international guidelines and bodies. It has to tie up with criterion of WHO, UNICEF, FDA & what not. Students will get unnecessarily confused and the quality will fall down. At present there are very less effective drug research and quality control in the country."

Referring to countries where the quality of medical education has worsened after opting for regional languages, he added, "In any country that has opted for regional language protocol of medical education there quality of doctors has gone really bad. Be it Russia, who was supposed to be one of the top in medical education has now fell down like anything. China, Ukraine, Phillipines. Every country where regional language MBBS training is done.

"The doctors face the brunt after completion of course where they are not familiar with international guidelines, henceforth poor salary in that country and no entry in other countries. Most importantly at the end of the patients suffer. This retrograde step will take countyry 50 years behind in coming 10 years," Dr. Rohan Krishnan further mentioned.

Also Read: MBBS in Hindi: Dr NTR University demands 5 years for changing medium of instruction