Science graduates face several challenges at various stages of their careers. Among them, medical students have a unique share. From the word go, there has to be a commitment for longer years, hardship, and relentless effort to keep themselves up to the standards and developments. Those who decide to become medical students must put in their time, effort, and money, apart from sustained interest and passion to become a good professional. Yesteryear's medical education had its reputation and glamour. That will be the single source of inspiration for them. But, the number of colleges and seats was limited. Over time with increasing demand and population the need for more numbers became a necessity. Thus the number of seats and colleges has increased by many-fold. Yet the country is not able to meet the required standard of numbers. Over time the challenges have increased in various ways. The demands have raised, expectations have gone up, subject knowledge has grown multi-fold, specializations have become the order, post-graduation, and super specialization have become mandatory. All these have added to the existing challenges in curriculum, management, and healthcare administration. More over the costs started skyrocketing. The overall healthcare system has become a more complex system.

All the newer developments demand a well-structured system, organization, and execution, as well as a strong administration both at the state and central levels. Soon technology, instrumentation, and pharmaceuticals were added to the armamentarium. Young students have to make up their minds right after pre-university courses. These children need sufficient awareness and orientation to make a conscious decision. Gradually, the motivation and commitment for such hardship are declining. There are many reasons for this. An average medical student has to spend 10 to 15 years before they stabilize. Compared to the easiness of engineering, comparison has become a challenge and conflict in young minds. They settle down just in 4 years with wider options. Despite such great inequalities, several students are coming forward to commit themselves to medical education.

However, many additional logistics challenges have cropped up over time. With increased volumes of students and several colleges, the logistic challenge has become innumerable. The selection process, conducting entrance examinations, declaring results, selection process, allocation of seats, organizing efficient staff, and qualifying examinations have posed several new challenges. With the addition of several private colleges and private universities, the whole process became compounded.The demands have increased but quality standards have gone down with the de-recognition of our degrees by international universities. Research has taken the back seat, and standards are defined by pure numbers. Variations in standards and quality have contributed to several variations across the country. Hence it is time to focus on our standards rather than on the pure numbers. It is adorable that we now have a good centralized system to create, build, and monitor standards across the country. I am sure this will go a long way to rebuild the system, standards as well as reputation with consistent effort and participation of good professionals.

The challenge of conducting examinations on time across the country became a new challenge. Maintaining quality, Confidentiality, and timelines has become a new challenge. This has led to several disappointments and a lack of faith among students. Despite technological developments, organizing these events at massive scales across the country has its intricate problems. As a result, timely examinations and results leading to timely admissions have become so variable every year. These examinations do not correlate with other branches of science such as agricultural science veterinary science or general sciences. So the aspirants for medicine have to go through several conflicts due to in-ordinate delays. As the medical exams get delayed they are compelled to apply for all other courses and even take up the courses that come their way first. This involves payment of fees and admission process to the respective colleges as they are not certain of getting a medical seat. Once medical selection results are announced they need to forego the fees and seat and repeat the entire process for medical admission. If there is significant delay some students may drop the option. In either case, either of the seats will go to waste. If such co-ordination is maintained the aspirants can choose their choices properly.

This can reduce loss of money, effort, duplication of process, and wastage of seats in all those specialties. Post-graduation process has become a different ball game altogether. Due to advancements in medicine specialization has become a rule than the exception. Many rather most medical students want to take up post-graduate courses. But the number of seats and choices are far less than the commensurate numbers required. The competition therefore has become tough and increasing year after year. Preparation for such exams has become highly competitive and stressful. At the same time, many options are also available including studying at Foreign Universities. Delay in conducting exams leads to uncertainty and affordable ones leave the country. The present situation of inordinate delay has led to serious disappointments among students. Cancellation of examinations and re-conducting such exams becomes a huge task and puts a lot of pressure on the system. Moreover, re-examination demotivates the students much more than all other challenges associated. Preparing once again with such a large syllabus is not an easy task for the students. This time particularly inordinate delay due to technical and logistic problems has caused a loss of academic year for the students.

So creating a robust well-organised system is the need of the hour. It should be a well-oiled system that is automated and fool-proof. The second thing we must focus on is the quality at all levels of medical education thus we regain the reputation within the country and outside making it on par with the international universities. The NEET exams need to be well structured in terms of timelines, standards, and processes. Thus the whole system of medical education becomes standardised across the country. That apart medical students from Indian universities will have their standing. This can inspire more and more students to take up the medical profession.

Dr. Venkataramana N K

Founder Chairman & Director – Neurosciences,

Brains Super Speciality Hospital, Bengaluru.