State Directorate of Medical Education marks 60 years, highlights emerging health challenges

Addressing the audience, Health Secretary P. Senthilkumar emphasised the importance of future-ready medical training, calling for a shift towards skill-based learning, wider adoption of simulation techniques, increased use of digital tools, and stronger collaboration across medical disciplines for both students and practitioners.

According to The Daily, he reiterated the need to respond proactively to evolving disease patterns, pointing out that climatic variations have altered the spread of infections such as scrub typhus, dengue, and chikungunya. Citing global trends, he observed that several illnesses once limited to specific regions a decade or more ago have now expanded rapidly, assuming epidemic proportions and posing widespread challenges worldwide.

Stressing the importance of Artificial Intelligence that was emerging as a worldwide phenomenon, the minister further added, “Rapid developments are altering the way we will be dealing with disease diagnosis and treatment. We need to prepare ourselves and our students for AI and related technologies.” He placed equal importance on research and innovation. “We have a robust network of medical college hospitals. How do we make these institutions knowledge-generating centres? All these institutions need to identify protocols for local diseases, health system research, and indigenous solutions for various tropical diseases and emerging diseases,” he added.