‘Medical syllabus should be revised’

Visakhapatnam: DR Rajagopal, Director, WHO collaborating centre for policy and training on access to pain relief, lamented that the present medical syllabus was based on the recommendations of Medical Council of India in 1997.

Health universities sparingly attempted to update and revise the syllabus, he added. Andhra Pradesh should take a leaf from the neighbouring states and revise the medical syllabus to suit the present day needs of the people, he pointed out.

He was the chief guest at a programme arranged by GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (GIMSR), GITAM University here on Tuesday. Speaking on the occasion, he pointed out that a painless and comfort life has a basic human right and every terminally ill patient requires them. Palliative care (specialised medical care for people with serious illness) for the terminally ill patients is necessary and the present medical education system should include this topic in the medical syllabus, he said.

Rajagopal disclosed that the pain clinics which were common in the west were not seen in this part of the world and after seeing this situation, he founded the Institute of Palliative Sciences, which was a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre, in 2012. Because of the expanding chronic diseases some of which have no known remedies in allopathy, require complimentary medicine including yoga and acupuncture.

He also suggested that GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences should start Palliative Clinic and offer suitable services. He interacted with the medical students and expressed satisfaction at the interest shown by the students. Later, he clarified various myths surrounding terminal illnesses and the role of doctors, paramedical personnel and counsellors.

GIMSR Principal SP Rao presided over the function and briefed about the palliative care.