A step toward revamping MD pharmacology curriculum by National Medical Commission: An envisioned transition from bench-side training to bedside training

With a vision to meet the changing trends and recent developments in the field of pharmacology and therapeutics, the postgraduate medical education board of the national medical commission has put forth amendments to the existing guidelines for the MD pharmacology course. Major changes include introducing a district residency-based program for 3 months apart from the clinical postings and more focus is given to the areas of rational prescribing, pharmacovigilance, and ethical aspects of research. These amendments come as a new ray of hope in developing the postgraduate student as a complete professional equipped to meet the increasing standards in the workplace be it a hospital or a research arena. Including the simulation-based approaches for training as a lesson learned from the pandemic and adopting patient-oriented learning during the course are some of the key changes in the new guidelines. This review focuses on highlighting these amendments and correlating the same with the current scenario and discusses the future areas that can be improved for comprehensive development in the pharmacology curriculum.

Implementation of Competency-based Medical Education in Forensic Medicine and Toxicology in Indian Medical Education — A Viewpoint on Challenges and Way Forward

The changing disease burden, living conditions and anticipations of end-users in health care have resulted in the decision of regulatory bodies in the Indian medical education system to shift the MBBS curriculum from Traditional to Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME).The efforts taken by the National Medical Commission (NMC) erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) to successful implementation of the herculean task of shifting curriculum are praiseworthy. MCI initiated a National Faculty Development Programme (FDP) in 2009 in all medical colleges under its ambit.MCI started with five regional centres, which now expanded to 22 centres, out of which 12 are regional centres, and 10 are advanced nodal centres. Nearly 44932 faculties were trained till December 2018. Despite all the advantages of CBME & the efforts taken up by governing bodies, there are many challenges. Some are common for all subjects, but few are unique or specific to a subject. This article views the possible challenges and the way forward for the successful implementation of CBME in Forensic Medicine and Toxicology.

National Medical Commission Act, 2019 – the need for parity

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has replaced the erstwhile Medical Council of India with the intention of bringing about positive reforms in medical education and enforcing ethical standards in the practice of medicine in India. The NMC Act of 2019, under clauses 3 and 4 of Section 30, details the procedure of grievance redressal. However, these clauses in their current form empower doctors and patients unequally. While the Act empowers an aggrieved medical professional to approach the relevant appellate fora under the NMC, it is silent on a similar opportunity for an aggrieved patient or caregiver to appeal against the decision of a State Medical Council. There is a need to amend these clauses to ensure equitable opportunity for aggrieved patients to appeal against decisions of the State Medical Councils to ensure justice.