Archive · 31 Aug 2026
India Debates Whether IIT Madras Should Build a Medical School
IIT Madras already teaches students how engineering and medicine can work together.
Its director now wants the institute to create a medical school for doctors.
The school could offer MBBS and MD degrees.
Supporters believe this could help India design and make more medical machines and treatments at home.
The author agrees that India needs stronger medical technology.
However, the author worries that running a medical school would require a lot of money, staff, buildings and attention.
Another option would be for IIT Madras to work with existing hospitals and medical colleges instead.
The main question is whether building a whole medical school would help India more than becoming exceptionally strong in medical technology.
IIT Madras established its Department of Medical Sciences and Technology in May 2023.
The department currently offers a four-year Bachelor’s programme in Medical Sciences and Engineering.
Director V Kamakoti announced plans for a School of Medical Sciences offering MBBS and MD degrees.
Supporters say engineering-medical integration could strengthen India’s domestic medical-technology capabilities and reduce equipment imports.
Critics argue IIT Madras should prioritize depth in engineering and medical technology while partnering with established medical institutions.
- Who
- IIT Madras and its director, Professor V Kamakoti, are proposing the School of Medical Sciences.
- What
- The institute plans to create a school capable of awarding MBBS and MD degrees.
- When
- The existing Department of Medical Sciences and Technology was established in May 2023; the proposed school was announced last week.
- Where
- At IIT Madras in India.
- Why
- The stated rationale is that modern medicine is increasingly technology-based and India remains dependent on imported high-end medical equipment.
Build the Medical School
Prioritize Engineering Depth
National medical-technology capability
Build the Medical School
Closer integration between engineering and medicine could help India develop domestic devices, diagnostics, imaging, implants and artificial-intelligence-enabled healthcare.
Prioritize Engineering Depth
IIT Madras can contribute to these areas without owning the entire clinical education and hospital pipeline.
Institutional model
Build the Medical School
A full medical school could bring clinicians and engineers together within one institution and create a direct pathway from technical research to clinical practice.
Prioritize Engineering Depth
Partnerships with established medical institutions and hospitals may produce stronger clinical research, validation and translation while preserving IIT Madras’s engineering focus.
Use of scarce resources
Build the Medical School
IIT Madras has the reputation, alumni network, financial resources and talent to attempt a major expansion into medical education.
Prioritize Engineering Depth
Leadership attention, faculty time, infrastructure and administrative capacity are limited; a new medical school could divert resources from deep-tech, advanced manufacturing, AI, robotics, energy, biotechnology and medical-device engineering.
- Existing department
- The Department of Medical Sciences and Technology was established in May 2023.
- Current programme
- It offers a four-year Bachelor’s programme in Medical Sciences and Engineering.
- Proposed degrees
- The proposed School of Medical Sciences could award MBBS and MD degrees.
- Stated national goal
- The initiative is intended to support indigenous medical technology and reduce dependence on imported high-end equipment.
- Main concern
- A medical school would require clinical faculty, patient-care responsibilities, accreditation, regulatory systems and new infrastructure.
- Alternative model
- IIT Madras could deepen engineering and medical-technology work while partnering with established medical institutions and hospitals.