Not just books and exams, the Medical Council of India gives doctor aspirants the right tools to become effective communicators and compassionate professionals.
Indian medical graduates are well equipped with skills and possess the requisite knowledge to function efficiently as a first responder to a patient. However, with this vast reservoir of knowledge, young medicos should also be able to function appropriately and ethically.
Medical Council of India (MCI)
The Medical Council of India (MCI) recognizes the importance of training the medical students not just to be top of the line medical professionals but also be effective and compassionate communicators. In short, be humane to worried patients.
The new curriculum that is set to roll out in August. It will have dedicated topics on ethics, compassion, attitude and communication under the new syllabus called ‘Competency Based Undergraduate Curriculum’. along with updated scientific advances and emerging diseases. With this curriculum, MCI aims to improve the doctor’s relationship with the patient and their families by bridging the communication gap. Effective communication can help decrease the fear of the unknown in patients and eliminate the frustration for doctor and patients.
According to the Medical Council of India, “The new curriculum regulations are more learner-centric, patient-centric, gender-sensitive, outcome-oriented and environment appropriate. The result is an outcome-driven curriculum which conforms to global trends. Attitude, Ethics and Communication (AETCOM).”
Students will be equipped with appropriate soft skills. This will enable future medical professionals to counsel patients and their family members effectively in challenging situations and procedures. Course like AETCOM will also teach students how to offer care and counselling to mental health patients and organ donors.
AETCOM aims
AETCOM aims to equip medical students with a compassionate and sensitive approach while taking consent before a frightening or invasive procedure. This will further improve the relationship between doctors and patients and help build trust.
Instead of jumping straight into the core subjects like anatomy and physiology. Classes for MBBS freshers will begin with two-months of ‘Foundation course’. This will begin with teachers explaining the history of medicine to help students warm up. Another feature of the curriculum is opting for elective subjects.
This allows students to pick subjects of their choice and dedicate their time for self-directed learning. The new curriculum also encourages the student to participate in is extracurricular activities to manage students’ stress