Mariyam Alavi
To
indira_khare@yahoo.com
27th May, 2025
Medical education in India is in dire need of an overhaul.
This was the major takeaway from a round table conducted by First Check and DataLEADS earlier this year, in association with their academic partner AMBOSS.
Representatives from leading private and government medical colleges, private and government hospitals, as well as industry bodies, from across Delhi NCR repeatedly spoke of how fresh medical graduates are often not reliable ‘doctors,’ as they lack clinical confidence in real world scenarios.
Dr (Prof.) B Srinivas, the Secretary of the National Medical Commission, the representatives from 20 different organisations and institutions highlighted the unique challenges plaguing the system today- from outdated curriculum that is not aligned with evolving medical advancements and global best practices to insufficient practical exposure and clinical experience for students, and from need for faculty upskilling to insufficient incorporation of modern technology, like simulation and AI, into medical training.
For instance, Dr Shubnum Singh, the Principal Advisor Health at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), highlighted how “lack of faculty, outdated equipment, and limited immersion in hands-on clinical material hinder the delivery of quality education. Agility to introduce new, relevant courses is essential to align education with industry needs.”
As the Co-founder and Co-CEO of AMBOSS, Dr Majid Salimi, put it,”there is a significant emphasis on aligning medical education in India more closely with clinical practice, as advocated by policymakers, hospitals with residency programs, and medical schools teaching MBBS. This creates a substantial opportunity for AMBOSS in India to bridge the gap and support students in preparing for exams while enhancing their clinical knowledge.”
Dr Srinivas, who lent a patient ear to all the suggestions that came up during the event, said that “while systemic change takes time, consistent feedback, student quality, and global benchmarks offer hope for aligning with international standards.”
A detailed report summarising the key takeaways from the discussion was also submitted to Dr Srinivas at the National Medical Commission, as part of our continuing efforts to transform medical education in India!
Mariyam Alavi
Editor
First Check
