Sex reassignment to be made part of MBBS curriculum from this year in Maha

Mumbai: The State Department of Medical Education and Research (DMER) plans to introduce a detailed topic on 'gender sensitivity' in the MBBS curriculum,which will cover sex-reassignment surgery (SRS) too. This introduction will put Maharashtra in the forefront of all other states, in having included the topic in the MBBS curriculum. The introduction is the result of a woman constable Lalita Salve, seeking a sex-reassignment operation.

This new addition to the curriculum is to be made part of this year’s syllabus itself. Twenty nine-year-old, Ms. Salve attached to Beed city’s Majalgaon police station has sought government permission and assistance to undergo sex surgery, along with a a request to keep her job, in the police force.

Talking to The Asian Age, Joint Director, DMER, Dr T.P. Lahane, said, “The issues related to gender sensitivity were there but it was not in detail. It was taught but now students will be given proper assignments in addition to being taught about everything that comes under this topic. Maharashtra is the first state to introduce the topic in the MBBS curriculum.”

When asked if the move to introduce the topic was made due to Ms Salve’s plea seeking government permission and assistance for a sex-reassignment surgery, at the state-run J.J hospital, Dr Lahane said, “Yes, but we should see to it that the students learn all the aspects related to such issues. They should have deep knowledge about all topics because that is what they’ll be dealing with after completing their course,” he said, “The doctors should be able to help such people suffering from such ailments.” If doctors are educated about the subject, it will ease things on ground level, he added.

Source told the Asian Age, that decision to introduce the topic in the MBBS curriculum was taken after several meetings with the DMER officials on transgenders issues; whether they be male or female transgenders, and their problems related to gender identity disorder.

The Maharashtra University of Health Science’s, Academic Committee gave a green signal to the inclusion of gender sensitivity and SRS into the new curriculum

The topic will be part of all syllabi taught in government and civic-run medical colleges and part of the exercise will be led by the Heads of Department and Professors from Gynaecology, Community Medicine, Psychiatry, Forensic Science, Internal Medicine, Paediatrics and other surgery departments of government-run medical colleges.