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By Suryagni Roy, Anirban Sinha Roy: A day after Mamata Banerjee proposed the State Health Department to start a diploma course for medical students, the Bengal government formed a 14-member committee of doctors on Friday to look into the proposal.
Citing a shortage of doctors in the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday proposed to start a shorter diploma course for medical practitioners. The remark sparked a row with political parties in the Opposition and the doctors’ association raising strong objections.
“Can we start a diploma course for doctors, like engineers? A number of boys and girls will get a chance (to study medicine). It takes a long time for doctors to graduate (under five-year degree); they have to study and work in a hospital,” Banerjee said on Thursday, addressing a meeting at the State Secretariat.
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The 14-member committee will file a report on whether a 3-year diploma course for doctors can be created, unlike a full 5-year MBBS course.
As per the state notice, to improve healthcare access, especially in rural areas, the state government has decided to explore the possibility of developing healthcare professionals with three years of classroom and practical training.
“To examine this matter in greater detail, the state government has formed an expert committee with 14 doctors, including representatives of Indian Medical Association (IMA),” the notice read.
The committee will examine the entire matter and will submit a report in 30 days. Thereafter, a decision will be taken after holding discussions with different stakeholders.
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