MCI needs to restore PG Diplomas in some areas: Govt appointed high-level group

New Delhi: The Medical Council of India (MCI) or the National Medical Commission (NMC) should restore the postgraduate diplomas in specific areas such as paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, anaesthesia, orthopaedics, family medicine, Opthalmology etc, the high-level group appointed by the 15th Finance commission has stated in its report

The suggestion comes even as the current Medical Council of India (MCI), as well as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, are in the opposite path of dismantling the PG Diploma courses at Medical Colleges and providing the corresponding number of MD/MS seats to the medical colleges

Read Also: MCI BOG approves conversion of 2120 PG Diploma seats to Degree, Maximum seats with Karnataka

The high-level group, which consists of esteemed medical practitioners was formed to evaluate the existing regulatory framework in the health sector and make broader level suggestions. The panel while making recommendations for filling up the gap in Human Resource for Health strongly suggested the revival of PG Medical Courses especially for certain specific specialities/

 " It is strongly recommended that regulatory bodies viz. MCI/NMC/DNB should restore the postgraduate diplomas in specific areas such as paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, anaesthesia, orthopaedics, family medicine, opthalmology etc. and majority of the seat share should go to in-service candidates.", the panel, whose convenor was AIIMS Director, Dr Randeep Guleria stated

"These two-year post-graduate diploma program candidates would primarily serve the purpose of service provisioning. These PG diplomas should be provided in affiliated hospital of college granting their MBBS or in Distinct Hospital under supervision of Medical College UG Teachers. Professionals graduating after this post-graduate diploma program can practice speciality in a primary and secondary care setting only," it stated 

" Finance Commission is Requested to give impetus to the infrastructure strengthening to reach the intended objective," the penal recommended

The suggestion comes even as the apex medical regulator is slowly dismantling the PG Diploma course in medical colleges India and converting the seats into full-fledged MD/MS seats. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about the disadvantage that PG Diploma candidates currently face in India in terms of promotion of posts at government institutes as well as the current lack of an option to career enhancement in terms of converting their degrees to MD/MS without starting again

Read Also: 4500 Ongoing PG Diploma Students Demand Conversion From MCI, Health Ministry