Medicine meets tech: IIT-Kharagpur launches PG medical courses, Pg15

Key Highlights:

• IIT Kharagpur is set to become the first Indian Institute of Technology to offer postgraduate medical degree programs accredited by the National Medical Commission (NMC).
• The programs will commence from the academic year 2026-27 at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Super Speciality Hospital, formerly the Dr B C Roy Multi-Speciality Medical Research Centre.
• The institute will offer six Doctor of Medicine (MD) programs with an intake of 12 seats, two for each specialization: General Medicine, Radiology, Physiology, Pathology, Community Medicine, and Biochemistry.
• Admissions will be conducted through the NEET-PG 2026 online counselling process, specifically in Round 2.
• This initiative aims to integrate clinical excellence with engineering, artificial intelligence, and translational research to foster innovator doctors.

Detailed Insights:

• IIT Kharagpur, established in 1951, is making this historic move 75 years after its foundation, marking a significant expansion of the IIT system into medical education.
• The Dr B C Roy Multi-Speciality Medical Research Centre was formally renamed the Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Super Speciality Hospital in 2021.
• The vision behind these programs is to train specialist doctors who are also innovators capable of addressing healthcare challenges through technology and scientific discovery.
• This integration aligns with the broader goal of delivering affordable, accessible, technology-enabled, and high-quality healthcare, contributing to the objectives of Viksit Bharat 2047.
• The hospital, a part of the institution, was inaugurated with a focus on robust Biomedical, Clinical, and Translational Research, including remote diagnostics and telemedicine.

Key Concepts Involved:

• National Medical Commission (NMC): The apex regulatory body for medical education and practice in India, established in 2019, replacing the Medical Council of India.
• NEET-PG: The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Postgraduate) is an entrance examination for admission to postgraduate medical programs (MD/MS/PG Diploma) in India.
• Doctor of Medicine (MD): A postgraduate medical degree awarded to physicians, signifying advanced training in a particular medical specialty.