MCI in for changes: Niti Ayog Chairman- Panagariya

Thiruvananthapuram:The much sort reform in the functioning of the Medical Council of India seems to be finally round the corner. This became evident when the Niti Ayog, Vice Chairman, Arvind Panagariya, who heads the panel of reform for the MCI, addressed the annual Convocation of the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), stating that 'a major change in the MCI was in the offing.' The annual convocation took place this Friday.

He was addressing a gathering of 108 senior residents and students who were there to receive their degrees after having graduated in 2015. The degrees they were receiving were for completion of DM, MCh, PDCC, PhD, MPH, MPhil, and MS courses. Speaking on the occasion he welcomed the Chief Minister, Pinaravi Vijayan’s promise of focus on agriculture and industry. “What can be done in terms of industrialization will virtually determine progress in all fields,” he said.

Citing reasons for the country having lagged behind in terms of economic development, Mr. Vijayan said that a wrong model had been adopted because of which the country did not achieve the targeted wealth gains. According to him, the ‘License permit raj’ killed all creative initiative, which found extention in regulation of academic institutions. He said it was because research was separated from teaching that higher education remained outside the purview of reform; which according to him had been the need of the hour.
To further reiterate his point he said “Demographic dividends cannot be allowed to turn into demographic disasters. We have to change how we run our educational institutions” .Demographic dividends cannot be allowed to turn into demographic disasters. We have to change how we run our educational institutions, he reiterated, as reported by.

Former Director, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, P. Balaram, who was also present for the occasion and addressed the gathering emphasized on the important role education and health were goin to play in the future development of the country. He called upon the new graduates to think independently on the subjects that they were going to spend their lives with, as products of the medical education system.

K.M. Chandrasekhar K.M. Chandrasekhar and President of the institute, and SCTIMST Director, Asha Kishore who were present for the occasion also addressed the students.