Bhubaneswar: In a bid to provide hands-on exposure at an early stage, practical-based curriculum will be introduced for medical students right from the first year itself from the 2019-20 academic session.
The Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Central government are mulling to make practical training of MBBS students mandatory from the first year instead of second year and a notification in this regard will be issued shortly, informed sources.
Apart from this, medical students will also be given attitude, ethics and communication training so as to put a check on incidents of doctor-attendant clashes in hospitals across the country.
"If students can get exposure to clinical teachings through practical courses right from the first year, then they can meet the expectations of patients and become successful doctors," said an expert, Basant Pati.
The MCI has decided to adopt the new curriculum called 'Competency Based Integrated Curriculum' replicating the model prepared by the World Federation for Medical Education.
Several aspirants who are keen to pursue medical courses have welcomed such change in the curriculum that is certainly unique and aims to bring out the best doctors.
"It is certainly a good step. If the students get acclimatised with practical sessions, it will help them to discharge their duties with utmost care and caution," said Prativa Ghose, an aspirant.
Sumanshree, another medical student stated that "Usually practical classes are not given importance in 10th and 12th standards and it may create some problems as it is being introduced for the first time. But we hope these changes will be beneficial for students."