Towards common medical syllabus
By Sarbjit Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — Baba Farid University for Health Sciences has resolved to bring about a uniformity in the syllabi of the medical, dental, Ayurvedic and other health education institutions in Punjab.

Earlier, these institutions were affiliated to different universities — Panjab University, GND University and Punjabi University. There was no uniformity in their syllabi. Now these have been put under the academic control of Baba Farid University. There are 28 such institutions in the State.

Following a decision of the academic council of Baba Farid University, separate committees of senior academicians have been set up to deal with the issue of uniformity in the syllabi of medical, dental, Ayurvedic and other courses. The committees have been asked to submit their reports by the end of January, 2000.

Dr Malkiat Singh, Dean Colleges Development, Baba Farid University, told TNS today that the examinations scheduled to be held in May and June next year would be held on the basis of uniform syllabi. He said there would not be much difficulty in implementing this decision as students would get enough time to complete the proposed uniform syllabi.

The committee for medical colleges is headed by Dr S.S. Sidhu, Director, Research and Medical Education, Punjab, who until recently also held the charge of Principal,Government Medical College, Patiala. When asked what sort of decisions would be taken by his committee, Dr Sidhu said the committee would modernise the syllabus for MBBS and the post-graduation in medicine, surgery and other courses.

He said the first prof of MBBS course had been reduced to one year from one and half year. The syllabus for this prof would be slashed and teachers informed at the earliest.

In the last prof, the period of which has been enhanced from one and half year to two years, there would be more emphasis on the clinical training. MBBS students would be made to examine the maximum number of patients.

Talking about the other changes, Dr Sidhu said there was a variation in the examination of post-graduation courses of Panjab University and Punjabi University. A student in Punjabi University has to pass all theory, practical and thesis papers separately to clear the final examination. In Panjab University these three papers have been combined. He said now this variation would be removed.

Meanwhile, Dr Malkiat Singh said the duration of vacations for students had been slashed. Students would be allowed 10 vacations in the winter and 20 in the summer. Earlier these were 15 and 30, respectively. The teaching staff would avail of only 10 gazetted holidays. The university would ensure at least 42-study hours in a week.