No takers for Non-Clinical MD courses at Goa Medical College

Panaji: Goa Medical College(GMC), has observed student disinterest in its Non-clinical MD courses like pharmacology, forensic medicine, physiology, anatomy, biochemistry in the past few years. This has led to vacant seats in the above-mentioned specialties, every year.

Confirming the same, Department Head, Orthopaedic Medicine, Dr S M Bandekar informed Times of India, "There is an aversion towards these specializations because most doctors prefer to be on the clinical side. After training, they want to treat patients and conduct surgeries."

From among the 5 seats available in MD-level forensic medicine course, only 1 was filled for the present academic year; that to after a gap of two years. "Working in this department entails a lot of hard work. We earn Rs 2 to Rs. 2.5 lakh a month. A surgeon easily earns it in a week," said a forensic doctor in GMC.

According to him, one MD seat in forensic medicine got taken this year, as a post is vacant in the department. "The student in question will be eligible for that post on completing the course," he added.

The situation is not very different when it comes to MD seats in physiology, anatomy, and biochemistry, reports TOI.

Speaking of reasons for anatomy and biochemistry, meeting a similar fate, Dr Bandekar said 'they are teaching and research-oriented subjects.'

"After completion of studies, very few students want to get into teaching. In India, there is not much scope for research in these faculties, due to lack of infrastructure," he explained.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that similar lack of interest was seen in the state of Rajasthan where nonclinical PG Medical courses took a back seat in comparison to clinical ones in state run government colleges

74 post graduation (PG) medical academic courses had found no enthusiasts. The seats were wasted as aspirants expressed greater interest in clinical branches in place of nonclinical ones. Anatomy and physiology which lead a student towards medical teaching also found no response, in the state. The disinclination persisted despite, the government waiving the bond sum for those who did not complete the 5-year government service term.

Read Also: Non Clinical PG seats find no takers, go a waste in Rajasthan