Follow us on
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur has reportedly applied to the National Medical Commission seeking approval to start MD programmes in six specialties—Medicine, Biochemistry, Radiology, Pathology, Physiology, and Community Medicine. If approved, it would become the first IIT to formally enter postgraduate medical education.
The proposed model aims to integrate technology with medical training, with discussions around a tech-enabled curriculum and the possibility of dual-degree pathways combining MD with technology-oriented domains. The initial intake is expected to be around 20 postgraduate seats.
Training is planned through a multi-institutional framework, with the B C Roy Medical Research Centre serving as the academic hub, while affiliated hospitals would provide clinical exposure. High-volume patient care settings, including the Railway Hospital, are expected to contribute significantly to hands-on training.
The proposal represents an unconventional approach, as IIT Kharagpur intends to begin directly with postgraduate medical education without launching an MBBS programme first. This could potentially create a new model of integrating engineering, technology, and clinical sciences within medical training.
NMC inspection is reportedly expected during April–May, and subject to approval, the institute may aim to operationalise the programme within the same year. The move may also open discussions on interdisciplinary medical education and future physician–technology collaborations.
The Medical Bulletin
Leave a Reply