October 21, 2007

Dr Sumera Gul advocates studying in a government medical college

I joined Dow Medical College thinking that government institutes had no adherence to rules and regulations. To my astonishment it was not as dreadful as is depicted. The government medical institutes have the privilege of being recognised by the chief medical educational body of Pakistan, The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. In addition it is universally acknowledged that they provide an economical education. Though the technology used in most of the government medical colleges is still primitive in nature they are holding their mark.

Each year the number of students admitted in one government medical college of Karachi on average is around 250 and 75 in a private medical college. Consequently in a private medical institute each student gets to know the faculty members. On the contrary we had to strive a lot to gain the attention of the instructors at our college. However, if this feature of a government institute has its drawbacks it has a positive aspect as well. We are required to work hard, to achieve a higher standard of knowledge and a hold on the subjects in order to mark our presence.

The best thing about a government medical college is the dedication of its teachers. Several students at private medical colleges told me that they believe that their teachers do work hard but only for the compensation they receive whereas in a government medical institute the teachers are not well paid. Dr.Shoaib Tauheed (late) is one example of a devoted teacher at a government college: he regularly came to college in a wheel chair, even at the last stage of his cancer.

We enjoyed more liberty in college. The attendance confirmation system in government medical colleges is not that efficient and students some how manage to put proxies. However due to the fact that the marks of each test/stage was counted in final exams we had to consistently study throughout the year.

There are certain hard facts that exist about government medical colleges. Firstly, the medical education system is still conservative and outdated which requires re-engineering. This can help achieve improved results using more problem oriented modern methodology. Most government institutes are still using the simple projectors and black/white boards during lectures. The libraries lack computers, internet and audiovisual facilities.

Secondly, the educational system badly lacks medical ethics. This is a subject which needs to be engraved in students’ personalities from the very first day. Unfortunately no mention is found in the curriculum of MBBS.

After Dow medical college attained the status of a university, the level of education noticeably improved in the government sector medical colleges of Karachi. Research work, computer aid and CME programmes have all been upgraded. The exam pattern has also been modified from multiple choice questions to best choice questions. The teaching methodology, however, remains the same; that needs to change.

The number of students in one practical session is too much and every student doesn’t get the chance to attend the session for longer times. Yet with strength of 250-350, the government medical institutes competently manage the practical sessions. Every student has his/her own microscope in a private sector medical college while we had to share one with 10-15 other students. There were only a few teachers who used to give us assignments, presentations or study projects. And those who gave us the assignments never guided us how to write one on a professional level; this was probably so because there was no importance given to assignments. There are enough resources in government medical institutes as the hospitals attached have a good input of patients and the faculty is of extraordinary caliber. There is dire need of student counseling because after the completion of students’ training many don’t even know the options of post graduate studies, scholarships, jobs etc.

Students need well maintained sports club, dramatic society and so forth. Most of the student bodies overshadowed all activities of the college thus many kept away from participating due to the political shadow. Political parties must be kept out of the medical institutes. Positive competition is healthy but most of the student’s organisations are badly influenced by the major political parties and hence play awful role in these institutes.

Another major drawback in the medical colleges of Sindh is selection of students on local area or domicile basis. Only the residents of Karachi are selected for the medical colleges in Karachi, and the ones in interior Sindh are selected for colleges in other parts of Sindh which is unlike Punjab and NWFP. Because of this only the few students who come from abroad or top merit holders of interior Sindh are given seats in government medical colleges in Karachi. This should be reviewed.

Students need to be skilled and provided with resources for the use of IT. The responsibility is on the part of the government to provide the institutes with the most updated audio visual aid, computer facility, well-resourced libraries with latest technology and journals.