Varsity to add ‘speech therapy’ in MBBS soon Initiative follows reports of frequent conflicts between patients and docs

Varsity to add ‘speech therapy’ in MBBS soon

Initiative follows reports of frequent conflicts between patients and docs

It’s not an uncommon sight to see doctors and patients having slanging matches, especially in public hospitals. There is seldom effective communication between the two, leading to relatives of patients bashing up doctors for what they call their high handedness. That scene is now all set to change. The latest directive from the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS, Nashik) says that medical colleges across Maharashtra will now teach medical students ‘how to speak’ with patients and their relatives. Young doctors will be taught communication skills and will be trained in soft skills so that they have a better Emotional Quotient (EQ) when they leave medical college with their degree. Candidates who have just cleared their MHT-CET on Saturday and are gearing up for admission will be the first batch to get this training. MUHS, which regulates all medical colleges across the state, has recently added three special modules of communication and soft skills in the MBBS 2012-13 course. Dr Arun Jamkar, vice chancellor, MUHS told DNA, “The first module is added in MBBS first year. Second would be taken in second year and third module will be taken along with internship.” All three modules will be taught by medical teachers who are currently being trained by experts. “We have hired well known resource persons like Dr Anand Nadkarni to train the teachers. We have asked deans of each medical college to nominate one teacher (from any subject) for this training course. By year end, all the medical colleges will have one such teacher,” said Dr Jamkar. The directive has received mixed reaction from the two parties involved. Monica Rawat, who was admitted in KEM hospital last month for 15 days said, “This training is needed for nurses and ward boys also. They have more attitude than doctors.” Whereas a Resident Medical Officer of JJ Hospital said, “I don’t think that course would be of any help in public hospitals where one doctor has to manage hundreds of poor and illiterate patients on one given day.”