MBBS in Tamil: Health Minister says First-year Textbooks getting ready
Chennai: Amid the ongoing controversies surrounding medical education in vernacular languages, the Health Minister of Tamil Nadu, Ma Subramanaian on Monday clarified that the Government has been taking steps to introducing MBBS course in Tamil medium and the first-year text books are getting ready as well.
The Health Minister has stated that after getting Union Government nod for opening medical colleges in six districts without medical colleges, the State will make efforts to commence a medical college in Chennai with Tamil as medium of instruction.
These announcements were made by the Minister shortly after launching new facilities at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Omandur Government Estate on Monday.
Speaking about the ongoing efforts for introducing MBBS in Tamil medium, he told the media, "Already, three professors, who were posted on diversion duty, have been involved in translating first year MBBS textbooks into Tamil for the last one year. The translation work is likely to be completed in a month after which we will consult linguistic experts to see if the translation works are 100% correct. This work will go on for 10 days after which the Chief Minister will release the textbooks."
He further confirmed that after getting approval for the new college in Tamil medium, the translation work would be taken up for the following years.
Also Read: MBBS in Hindi may harm National Interest in Long Run: FAIMA
As per the latest media report by The Hindu, the request for introducing MBBS in Tamil medium and opening a medical college offering medical courses in Tamil had been made last year. While responding to a question if the State was taking this initiative of MBBS in Tamil while referring to the Hindi MBBS textbooks launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the State Health Minister said, "Minister for Municipal Administration had requested that the new medical college be set up in Chennai on a 16-acre land inside the Communicable Diseases Hospital, Tondiarpet, and it could be in Tamil medium,"
Accordingly, the State had been making efforts to get the Union government nod for commencing medical colleges in the districts of the State that do not have one. Following this, the Government plans to request the Centre for introducing Tamil as a medium of instruction in medical education.
In this regard, Health Minister Subramanian told the daily, "We have sought approval from the Union government to start six new medical colleges in Tenkasi, Mayiladuthurai, Perambalur, Ranipet, Tiruppattur and Kancheepuram. This is under consideration. Once we get the approval for these six colleges, steps to start a new medical college in Chennai with Tamil as medium of instruction will be taken."
The announcement for MBBS in Tamil has come amid the ongoing controversies regarding the introduction of UG medical courses in Hindi medium. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Union Government proposal for implementing Hindi or regional languages as a medium of instruction for MBBS commenced the Hindi vs English Controversy in the medical education sector.
Earlier the Madhya Pradesh Government had announced about introducing MBBS education in Hindi. 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. It was also decided that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah would launch the first-year MBBS textbooks, which have been translated from English into Hindi.
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."
Also Read: Puducherry Govt proposes to start medical college offering MBBS course in Tamil
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