New Delhi: The Board of Governors in supersession of the Medical Council of India (MCI) have amended the feeder qualifications of DM (Doctor of Medicine) in Medical Oncology,(DM Medical Oncology) in India. The amendment which was released via a recent gazette, effectively adds MD (Pediatrics) as one of the feeder qualifications of the DM course

This is the second time in a year that the feeder qualifications to the course have been changed. Last year amendment to the older regulations Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 were made for the same course which are effective from April 1, 2019.

Last year in April, the feeder qualifications of DM Medical Oncology were changed. Earlier, the prior requirements were MD (Medicine), MS (Radiotherapy), MD (Paediatrics), however, at that time, the feeder qualification had been reduced to MD (General Medicine), MD (Radiation Oncology). Along with this, the council had removed the redundant qualifications which act as prior requirements to various DM and MCh courses.

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Now, with objections from many over the inability of paediatricians to enter DM Medical Oncology course, the MCI BoG has made a further revision to the prior requirements for pursuing the DM Medical Oncology course once again adding MD (Paediatric) as a feeder qualification to the DM Medical Oncology course.

As per the gazette, in Schedule of the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000, in Clause “C” under the heading of D.M. (Doctor of Medicine), under heading prior requirement following shall be substituted as under:

S.No.	Area of Specialisation	Prior Requirement
8	Medical Oncology	MD (Paediatric) MD (General Medicine) MD (Radiation Oncology)

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Doctorate of Medicine in Medical Oncology is a three years Post Doctorate super-speciality course. This branch of medicine deals with the study of tumours or cancer. The course imparts training to candidates into the field of medical oncology and related subjects with adequate exposure to clinical and laboratory-based activities. During the course emphasis is given on diagnosis of any cancer in a person, therapy, follow up of cancer patients after successful treatment, the palliative care of patients with terminal malignancies and ethical questions surrounding cancer care.

The selection of candidates who intend to pursue super speciality courses is done via NEET SS. National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Super Speciality courses, NEET SS is the gateway to DM and MCh courses in the country.

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