1 week ago
IIT Madras Plans Medical School Amid Regulatory Challenges
IIT Madras wants to start teaching medicine alongside engineering.
It may eventually offer degrees such as MBBS, MD and PhD.
The institute already has a department that combines medicine, biology and technology.
Students in that programme learn how machines and the human body work together.
They could help create scanners, implants and medical software.
Director V Kamakoti says India should develop more medical equipment at home.
However, IIT Madras cannot award medical degrees immediately.
It must first receive approval from the National Medical Commission and have a teaching hospital.
IIT Madras plans to establish a school of medical sciences and award MBBS, MD and PhD degrees.
The institute created its Department of Medical Sciences and Technology in May 2023.
Its existing four-year programme trains hybrid graduates who combine engineering and biological knowledge.
Director V Kamakoti says medical schools can help develop domestic medical technology and reduce dependence on imports.
The National Medical Commission requires approval and a teaching hospital before an institution can award medical degrees.
- Who
- The Indian Institute of Technology Madras and its director, V Kamakoti, are behind the proposal.
- What
- IIT Madras plans to establish a medical sciences school and award medical degrees, including MBBS, MD and PhD.
- Where
- At IIT Madras, whose existing medical technology department works with leading city hospitals.
- When
- The Department of Medical Sciences and Technology was established in May 2023; no launch date for the proposed medical school was given.
- Why
- The institute says modern medicine depends heavily on technology and that India needs to develop medical equipment domestically and bring doctors and engineers closer together.
Institutional Rationale
Regulatory Requirements
Why expand into medicine?
Institutional Rationale
V Kamakoti says technology is central to modern medicine, India imports much high-end medical equipment, and technology institutions should help build it domestically.
Regulatory Requirements
Medical education is regulated by the National Medical Commission, so an institution’s ambition does not by itself allow it to award medical degrees.
Combining doctors and engineers
Institutional Rationale
IIT Madras wants doctors and engineers to train under the same roof so they can collaborate on scanners, implants and software equipment.
Regulatory Requirements
The institution must provide a working teaching hospital so students can gain practical experience treating patients, creating an infrastructure requirement beyond engineering facilities.
Key facts
- Institution
- Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Proposed school
- School of Medical Sciences
- Potential degrees
- MBBS, MD and PhD
- Existing department
- Department of Medical Sciences and Technology, established in May 2023
- Regulator
- National Medical Commission
- Approval requirement
- Institutions need regulatory approval and a teaching hospital to award medical degrees
- Comparable example
- IIT Kharagpur has approval for a postgraduate MD course, while its MBBS plan remains under progress
Quotes
Professor V Kamakoti
Director of IIT Madras, Professor V Kamakoti
“"We want to give medical degrees, and I think that will be something which will make the institute much bigger."”
livemint.com
“"IIT Madras will certainly launch a school of medical sciences."”
livemint.com
Sources
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