Dr.Arun's comments

.......One can hardly do justice (both students as well as teachers) with the reduced frame of time. There is no representation from 2nd year subject experts in the working group. The subjects of Pathology, pharmacology, forensic medicine and microbiology, do serve as strong base for the better comprehension of clinical subjects and hence assigning 1 and a half year to these subjects shall not be considered as a wastage of time......
The medical faculty also reserves its right to know the basis for grouping the medical subjects as A, B and C. 
Dear Colleagues,

The total duration of MBBS shall never be reduced to 4+1 years. One can hardly do justice (both students as well as teachers) with the reduced frame of time. The committe which has proposed this, shall take into confidence the views and concerns of teaching faculty of para clinical departments. As it is shown, there is not even a single representation from 2nd year subject experts. The subjects of Pathology, pharmacology, forensic medicine and microbiology, do serve as strong base for the better comprehension of clinical subjects and hence assigning 1 and a half year to these subjects shall not be considered as a wastage of time.

The medical faculty also reserves its right to know the basis for grouping the medical subjects as A, B and C. Does it mean that subjects coming under group C are less important or NOT needed for a medical graduate? There also exist a need to know the logic in categorising the medical subjects as 'core' and 'non-core'.

In a course of MBBS, all existing subjects shall remain as 'CORE' and 'COMPULSORY'

The course duration is also justified to continue for 4 and a half years. 

The anology may seems over dramatised, but still, it may be said that implementing the concepts of 'non-core' and 'elective' subjects in MBBS, would be like trying to tell that some parts of the human body may be sacrificed as they do not have a specified and designated function. A human body cannot be called as 'complete' if some of its parts are 'missing'. So as the existing curriculum with all subjects 'intact'

However, the integrated style of teaching may be approoved, without lessening the teaching slots. This seems to be the ideal situation. Nothing may be considered as 'equivalent' to a teaching by a specifically qualified teacher. This transpires that, an OG, surgery teacher may not be able to pick up the nuances of a rape case or an injury case in comparison to a doctor trained in MD-Forensic Medicine. SIminilarly, an advocate would not be able to comment on matters of MEDICO-LEGAL importance, unless he is qualified in medicine. The vice-versa also holds equally good.

Let the teachers of 2nd year subjects, raise our voice against the reduction of teaching slot from 1 and a half year to 1 year.

Let us submit our concerns to the policy makers in writing.
It would be more appropriate if a representation is made from teachers of 2nd MBBS, from the departments of Pathology, Forensic Medicine, Pharmacology and Microbiology. We need to do it fast before its 17th Jan 2011, which is the set deadline by the BOG MCI.
Regards,
DR. ARUN M 
MBBS,MD,Diplomate NB. 
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
FORENSIC MEDICINE
JSS MEDICAL COLLEGE
MYSORE - 570015
KARNATAKA, INDIA