Doctor's Dilemma

MBBS and PG students are worried about not having access to skill-based practicals, while their professors agree that virtual teaching can never match what is taught in classroom, reports Somrita Ghosh

- Somrita Ghosh

For Mehak Singh, the first year of pursuing an MBBS degree at University College Of Medical Sciences (UCMS) in 2019 was fairly smooth-sailing. Then, the pan-India lockdown was imposed in March 2020 and her classes were shifted online. When the situation improved, physical classes resumed but again discontinued in the second wave. Attending online seminars and classes were doable, but what majorly impacted her was missing out on practicals.

“There are two requirements in the medical stream. First, you read, secure good marks and top the exams. And second, you become a good doctor. I don’t doubt myself about getting good marks, but my confidence is low as I do not have as much (on-ground) experience, such as going to different departments, talking to people and understanding the complexities… as my seniors have. I feel less prepared,” said Singh, now a second-year MBBS student.

MAIN WORRY: NO PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE

Singh voices the lament of medical students and their tribulations in the past year-and-a-half in tackling the pandemic. Along with healthcare workers, even MBBS final-year students and PG students were roped in when hospitals were overwhelmed with a sudden surge in Covid cases. Overnight, the focus shifted towards tackling the Covid situation, and in the process, academics has taken a hit.

Dr Vishakha Arya, a third-year PG student, Pathology, Lady Hardinge Medical College, says the theoretical bit can be studied.