<p>A few subjects in medical courses at the postgraduate (PG) level are losing sheen in the state as there are no takers, amid a dearth of specialists in the field of medicine. </p>.<p>The demand for pre- and para-clinical subjects at the PG level is going down drastically, with 500 plus seats left vacant during the 2020-21 academic year.</p>.<p>The number of seats available in pre- and para-clinical PG courses this year was 801. </p>.<p>Details available from the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) show that subjects like anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, community medicine, forensic medicine, microbiology, pharmacology and pathology have no demand.</p>.<p><strong>Technical hurdle</strong></p>.<p>Though experts recommend freezing admissions to subjects that have no takers, it is not possible technically.</p>.<p>Speaking to <em>DH</em>, a senior official from the department of medical education said, “It is compulsory to have pre- and para-clinical courses while opening new PG departments at medical colleges, according to the National Medical Council norms. We cannot make any changes at the state level.”</p>.<p>Students in MBBS say the demand for any subject/course depends on the job market. “If we take up any of the clinical subjects, we can attend to patients and take up practice. But a majority of the pre- and para-clinical subjects have no job opportunities,” said a final year MBBS student.</p>.<p><strong>‘Redundant subjects’</strong></p>.<p>“We all have studied anatomy in graduation itself. It is better to scrap such subjects at PG level and convert or transfer those seats to subjects where there is more demand and a need for specialists,” said Dr Charitra, pursuing her MD in anaesthesia. </p>.<p>Seconding the opinions expressed by students, Dr S Sacchidanand, Vice Chancellor of RGUHS, said, “Yes, the job market is one of the main reasons for students not taking up pre- and para-clinical subjects at PG level. There are very few opportunities for practice in pre- and para-clinical<br />courses.” </p>
<p>A few subjects in medical courses at the postgraduate (PG) level are losing sheen in the state as there are no takers, amid a dearth of specialists in the field of medicine. </p>.<p>The demand for pre- and para-clinical subjects at the PG level is going down drastically, with 500 plus seats left vacant during the 2020-21 academic year.</p>.<p>The number of seats available in pre- and para-clinical PG courses this year was 801. </p>.<p>Details available from the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) show that subjects like anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, community medicine, forensic medicine, microbiology, pharmacology and pathology have no demand.</p>.<p><strong>Technical hurdle</strong></p>.<p>Though experts recommend freezing admissions to subjects that have no takers, it is not possible technically.</p>.<p>Speaking to <em>DH</em>, a senior official from the department of medical education said, “It is compulsory to have pre- and para-clinical courses while opening new PG departments at medical colleges, according to the National Medical Council norms. We cannot make any changes at the state level.”</p>.<p>Students in MBBS say the demand for any subject/course depends on the job market. “If we take up any of the clinical subjects, we can attend to patients and take up practice. But a majority of the pre- and para-clinical subjects have no job opportunities,” said a final year MBBS student.</p>.<p><strong>‘Redundant subjects’</strong></p>.<p>“We all have studied anatomy in graduation itself. It is better to scrap such subjects at PG level and convert or transfer those seats to subjects where there is more demand and a need for specialists,” said Dr Charitra, pursuing her MD in anaesthesia. </p>.<p>Seconding the opinions expressed by students, Dr S Sacchidanand, Vice Chancellor of RGUHS, said, “Yes, the job market is one of the main reasons for students not taking up pre- and para-clinical subjects at PG level. There are very few opportunities for practice in pre- and para-clinical<br />courses.” </p>
