Chandigarh: Final-year MBBS students to write exams sans training

CHANDIGARH: Due to Covid-19, final-year students of MBBS at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, Chandigarh, will take their final examination, but without practical training in handling patients.

“With no clinical postings or visits to the OPDs, the final-year students of MBBS at the GMCH-32 will have a tough time during internship. These medical students have completed their online theory classes and shall be taking their final examinations soon,” said a faculty at the GMCH-32.

Though, the first-year MBBS practical classes started at the GMCH from September end, they have not missed much as the sessions started last year. “Also, in online classes, one can log-in and still not attend the classes. So it is not the best way of teaching,” said another faculty at the medical college.

For the medical students, who had been attending theory only, not being a part of clinical postings will be a disadvantage. “We have been missing out on this aspect as we have heard about its significance from our seniors. We will still pass the examination, but without a sense of course completion,” said a final-year student at the GMCH-32. The second-year of the MBBS has still been running online classes without practicals. “For the first-year students, we are taking all precautions as these classes are conducted in batches of 40-50 students to maintain social distancing. Before entering, students and teachers use sanitisers and wear masks,” said Anil Moudgil, a spokesperson of the GMCH-32.

The classes for the medical college had been stopped due to the Covid-19 since April after all the medical colleges in the country had issued directions to start online classes.