IMA Andhra Pradesh opposes MBBS in regional languages

Indian Medical Association (IMA), Andhra Pradesh chapter, has opposed the decision of the Madhya Pradesh government to teach MBBS courses in the Hindi language.

Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched MBBS textbooks in Hindi in Madhya Pradesh. Now the Andhra Pradesh chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has strongly opposed the Madhya Pradesh government's decision to teach MBBS courses in the Hindi language.

IMA- AP State president Dr C Srinivasa Raju said that despite the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) earlier warning of not recognising MBBS education imparted in Hindi medium, the MP government has announced introducing the same in Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal from the next academic session i.e. from 2022-2023. The confirmation regarding this was given by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, as reported by Indian Express.

“It will not amend norms to allow MBBS courses in languages other than English. The NMC clarification came after a recent announcement by the Madhya Pradesh government to offer MBBS and paramedical courses in Hindi. The Uttar Pradesh government had also expressed a similar intent,” said the medical education regulator.

Research papers and journals in English, said IMA-AP President

While explaining why IMA is opposing MBBS in Hindi languages, he said almost all reputable research papers and journals are published in English and there are concerns about the inability of teachers to teach MBBS in Hindi language.

By default, the teachers are trained to teach in English as they have also been taught in the same language. So, if the course has to be launched in Hindi, then the teachers should also have to be trained to teach in Hindi along with translating the entire syllabus, which is going to be a tedious process, he said.

"Students from north India can understand Hindi but what about students who belong to southern and north-eastern states? In India, students migrate from State to State for medical education. Also, medical education in Hindi or any regional language has a longstanding disadvantage as the graduates have to get out and work wherever their services are required. The graduates will also not be eligible to go out of India and pursue higher education, fellowship and research," he added, as reported by The Hindu.

Read more:

• Madhya Pradesh: Amit Shah launches MBBS textbooks in Hindi on October 16
• Medicine, nursing, and pharmacy textbooks in Indian languages in three years