MBBS foundation course – A playway class

Change is always welcome, certainly, teachers of medical colleges are in great upbeat mood regarding the change in the MBBS curriculum. Everyone, whether it is new MBBS entrant, teacher, babus in government or public, in general, are somehow expecting an overnight change in the health system and immediate improvement of health of poor and downtrodden.

We have been following British pattern of medical curriculum since pre-independence era and the last time it was changed by the Medical Council of India in the year 1998.

The main point to ponder upon remains, What was the need to change the syllabus? Why to introduce this foundation course in the new curriculum^[1]?

Foundation course has eaten away precious time of the 2^nd MBBS and 1^st MBBS course without delivering any substantial benefit.

To quote a few:

1. No Bengali can learn Malayali language in 1 month of foundation course nor can a Marathi pick up Kashmiri. Student at this age can only pick up few nasty words

2. Sports and yoga are being pushed forcibly during afternoon hours resulting into indigestion and other health problems

3. Lecture on options and career choices after MBBS is meaningless at entry stage. Most of the students are yet to develop an interest in medical profession

4. Hospital and field visits are like excursion for the new MBBS students, otherwise also they are being held during existing course

5. Skill honing is a persistent and continues process and is waste of time during foundation course

6. Lot is being discussed regarding aptitude, attitude, professionalism, and ethics in foundation course, whereas this should be the part of teaching in school, parenting, and mentorship in the MBBS course.

You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink. Only meritorious students with correct mindset and zeal to serve the community should be admitted to medical colleges. There should be no force or any pressure from the parents or any peer pressure.

We do not require any experimental changes in the time tested curriculum. House job was the best period of learning and honing of the young graduate, rather revert back to old system.

Old is Gold.