Perceptions of Post-graduate Students Towards M.D. Physiology Curriculum in India.

In India, the system of postgraduate (PG) medical education has suffered due to long-term neglect. A comprehensive review of the curriculum of PG courses has not taken place for several decades. Whatever changes have been made are marginal and have had little overall impact. Inspite of societal need and dearth of physiologist, there is an observation that there hardly any takers for M.D. Physiology. The above facts compel the need into rethinking the training and curriculum designing of M.D. Physiology curriculum in India. The aim of the present study was to assess the perception of M.D. physiology students toward the present curriculum which will help in gaining an insight in further curriculum planning. A questionnaire based on the objectives of M.D. Physiology curriculum was administered to post-graduate students from different parts of the country. The results showed that though the curriculum is addressing the teaching needs of postgraduate M.D. Physiology students, it is not preparing them adequately as a researcher.

Bleak future for pre- and paraclinical postgraduates in India.

In a bid to encourage medical graduates to opt for postgraduation in pre- and paraclinical courses, the Odisha Government, in January 2018, hiked the stipend for students pursuing these courses in state-run medical colleges. The state government also announced additional financial assistance of Rs 18,000 per month for pre- and paraclinical postgraduate students, along with the stipend money. The state's Health and Family Welfare Minister, Pratap Jena, said this would be applicable to both in-service and direct postgraduate students. This announcement in the newspapers gave rise to much discussion in the social media.