Ludhiana, November 5
“Medical education has to keep pace with the changing scenario in the health needs of our country and it is imperative that we incorporate the recent trends and advances in technology in formulating the curriculum for various medical courses,” said Padma Shri Professor Mahendra Bhandari, Director, Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, while delivering the 19th ‘Dr Lobo Memorial Oration’ at the CMC Hospital, Ludhiana, recently. Professor Bhandari sought concerted efforts by professional and statutory bodies to formulate a technology driven medical education scheme for the preventive and curative health needs of our country.
Dr J. Jacob, Associate Director, CMC, Ludhiana, while inaugurating the annual function and academic events of the Dr L.H. Lobo Memorial Trust , felicitated the trust for holding the prestigious oration in memory of the late Dr Lobo for the 19th year in succession.
A symposium on ‘prostate cancer, new insights for an old disease’ was held after the oration. A number of experts participated in the symposium. Dr S.K. Sharma, Director, PGI, Chandigarh, Dr A.S. Bawa, Professor and Head of the Department of Surgery, Government Medical College Hospital, Chandigarh, acted as moderators. Dr S.K. Singh, Associate Professor, Department of Urology, PGI, Chandigarh, in his opening statement said men above the age of 50 were more prone to prostrate cancer. Obstruction in bladder was one of the earliest symptoms. ORE and PSA tests helped in early detection of the disease. In India, one out of every six men was liable to get prostate cancer. He said number of deaths due to this disease was on the rise. Early diagnosis could save many lives, he said.
Dr A.K. Hemal, Professor of Urology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Dr M.K. Mahajan, Professor and Head, Department of Radio Therapy, CMC, Ludhiana and Dr Kim Mammen, Professor and Head, Department of Urology, CMC, Ludhiana also spoke at the symposium.
Prof. S.K. Sharma, Director, PGI, Chandigarh, said prostate cancer was the most common malignancy in male population. Dr Kim Mammen, Professor and Head of the Urology Department, CMC, Ludhiana, and organising secretary, said early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer was very important.
But unfortunately, the disease, in most of the cases, is detected very late. Such patients generally complain of urinary obstruction, backache and spinal problems due to malignant spread of the disease”, he said.
Talking to Ludhiana Tribune after the symposium, Prof Mohendra Bhandari, Director, SGPGIMS, Lucknow, said, the “Medical education should confirm to the healthcare needs of the country, but all efforts to reform medical education have failed in India,”
He said medical education had remained static for years and needed to undergo a change. He said, Medical experts should adopt problem-based approach”.
He said all modern techniques should be used to teach medical students. He said there should be a coordination among various teachers who teach different subjects to students. “We need to change the basic concept of medical education,” he said.
