MBBS Exams around the corner: Medicos in distress with no inpatient admissions at Ernakulam medical college

As per the circular of Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) released in November 2020, the MBBS exam for the final year students has been scheduled for April. On the other hand, the pandemic situation in 2020 badly affected medical education across the State. Considering the overall scenario, naturally, the students and their parents are concerned and worried regarding the matter.

President of the Parent-Teacher Association of the medical college, Abdul Zalam M K has expressed his concern regarding the matter. He told the New Indian Express, "Even after the strike by house surgeons, students demanding admission of IPs and despite the assurance from the district collector, necessary steps have not been taken to resolve the issues of the students. It's been over a year since the students here are going through the troubles. Unlike the other Medical Colleges in the state, Ernakulam was a Covid hospital for too long. Due to Covid, there was no IP and OP admissions since March. It is really sad to see that students especially those in final year not getting the required exposure."

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that Abdul Zalam M.K, also a parent of a final-year student had expressed his concern on the issue as the strike had hit academics, and gynaecology and paediatric departments had still not been open for inpatient services.

While commenting on the matter, a final-year MCH student informed NIE, "After the Covid scenario, the strike of the teachers affected the studies. Now, with them putting it off, the main concern remains lack of patients for studies. The issue concerns only some of the departments. There are IPs in the general medicine wing. We have just a few months left for exams and without IP exposure there is no point in becoming a doctor."

Meanwhile, NIE adds that during the strike of house surgeons in January, the district collector had given his assurance that COVID patients at the MCH would be shifted to Aluva taluk hospital by the end of January. An MCH official, while commenting on the matter, told the daily, "Work is on at Aluva taluk hospital to facilitate admission of Covid patients from the MCH. Once the work is completed these patients will be shifted. The arrangements to shift the patients will be made this month itself."