[india-drug] Re: Teaching Pharmacology and Therapeutics (22)

["Pranav Gupta" <pranavgupta@hotmail.com>]

Teaching Pharmacology and Therapeutics (22)
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Hello Madam,

I am directly 'jumping' to the 'thoughts' as you have asked.

1. At least a few medical colleges under Delhi University (UCMS...no info about LHMC and MAMC) do not have (or have only a few PCs away from the reach of UG students) internet facility for the students (yes, they do have it for the consultants). So, online thing might not work for UGs. (I dont expect students to spend on cyber-cafe for learning RUD.)

2. Pharma is not taught as it should be. What is the use of memorising thousand and one anti-hypertensive without any information on prescribing them? Excess knowledge only adds to the confusion. Better, teach ONLY the ones used and teach them to the 'fullest'. When CAPTOPRIL and CEMETIDINE are not used....teach/ask the ones that are used!

3. For those in teaching, there in no use of copying down the text books (like the one by Dr. KD Tripathi which we use in Delhi) on the transparencies and projecting them on the OHP. Good morning! Students already have the text book.......people sitting at the back have it opened right on their tables! Better, tell them something that books cant teach.....when/how/why to use the drug and not anything else.

4. I doubt if MCI will allow anything to be done during three months of 'community health' posting for interns. (Didnt't Bhore wanted to make community physicians when he introduced the 'three month' community posting?) (Any need for seperate classes? Can we teach in a few months, that can not be taught in an year and a half?)

5. Greed factor! What is the best a man can get in India after he is out of school? MBBS? A simple B.Tech. from an average college earns about Rs. 50,000 p.m after his education for 4 yrs. What is on offer for an MBBS who has put in 5+half years hard work? Its high time for the salaries to be raised to match the MNC salaries.

6. CMEs are just another 'power-trips' with few people trying to prove their greatness. I wonder if they give anything except for the physician samples of the drugs.

May I advise :

1. Legislature: Someone here told that drug companies in USA can only offer gift that costs no more than $100 and are educational. Also, CMEs are not a family dinner. Only the physicians are allowed to attend the CMEs (and the dinner as well :-) Why can't we have it in India? And the greed factor is there to stay.....have to live with it.

2. Teach Pharma as it should be: Sorry for being blunt, but most of the teachers have absolutely no idea about teaching. We have a special course for school teachers called B.Ed. which aims at learning 'teaching skills'. Do we have any for the teachers at medical college? A UG or PG degree might make a good doctor but never a teacher! What about having seminars on 'lively teaching' for teachers from all streams in medical colleges?

I am sorry if my views hurt anyone.

Regards,
Pranav Gupta
Medical Graduate
Delhi