Kolkata : The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directed state Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam to explore the possibilities of introducing a three-year diploma course in medicine in the state that will run in a parallel manner with the existing MBBS degree course to cope up with the acute shortage of doctors in the state. She directed Health Secretary to form a committee in this regard to evaluate the possibilities of introducing the diploma course on this count.The Chief Minister said that although many hospitals are coming up in the state there is acute shortage of doctors there. This has a led to the need to examine whether a three-year diploma course in medicine can be started in line with the diploma in engineering. In that case, many students will also be able to study that course she added.
She also said that since the existing MBBS course is of five- year duration, often the state government has to wait for a long time to get qualified doctors. “The number of hospitals and beds have increased manifold. If a parallel diploma course can be started, then those qualifying there can be utilised at the health centers. I think this will yield positive results,” Banerjee said.
The said diploma proposal is likely to hit legal roadblock as for practicing medicine in India, a medical professional has to register in the State Medical Council which recognizes the five-year MBBS Course only. So legally it will not be possible for the 3-year diploma holder in Medicine to practice since they will not get registration in the State Medical Council. Also, on the other hand the medical fraternity has strongly opposed the idea. They contend that the 3-year diploma holder in medicine will be deputed at the government health centers in rural areas. They question that whether the lives of the patients in the rural areas can be put at stake by being treated by these diploma holders.
Her proposal has, however, evoked controversies with the opposition parties and a section of the medical fraternity described the decision as a risky proposition.BJP’s state spokesman Samik Bhattacharya said that this will remain a proposal from the Chief Minister and will never see the light of the day. “This is a dangerous proposition,” he said.Congress leader and Calcutta High Court counsel Kaustav Bagchi said that the Chief Minister’s proposal for a diploma in medicine in lines of “civic volunteers” in police, if put into practice, will endanger the lives of several patients.