Dr. M. C. Gupta's Journal

OUTSOURCING AMERICAN MEDICAL EDUCATION TO INDIA: a proposal

OUTSOURCING OF AMERICAN MEDICAL EDUCATION TO INDIA: a proposal














I think the authorities in USA should seriously consider opening a medical school in India, primarily for the benefit of USA, where medical education is very costly and the number of US citizens graduating in medicine is insufficient, leading to dependence upon foreign medical graduates.











The teaching in this medical school, which may be established under a reputed US university, would lead to a degree being granted by the said university. The medical graduates would be produced exactly as per US standards. The syllabus, the curriculum, the teaching methods and the examination may all be as per US norms and the degree may, therefore, be recognised by USA straightway without any need for ECFMG / USMLE etc. Suitable arrangements can be made with the government of India and the MCI. If necessary, arrangements can be made for an year's placement in American hospitals during studentship / internship / both.











The above would be a win-win situation for all for the following reasons:











1--America would be able to produce doctors  at, maybe, a fraction of the cost in USA.





2—India would be able to earn through outsourcing of medical education to India, in the same league as earning through "medical tourism" and clinical research trials. It may be mentioned that as per some reports, teaching / coaching of American school kids is already being outsourced to India in a limited manner.





3--The project would be self- financing. Heavy fees can be charged for medical education. There would be no dearth of American and other foreign students, as also Indian students, including children of Indian origin in USA and other countries, who would queue up to pay high fees and get a medical degree.





4--Indian medical education would benefit and standards would improve through exposure, interaction, simulation, participation and competition. It might enhance India's status and capabilities by way of proving to the world (and the USA) that India can do what the USA can do (by way of providing high quality medical education.)





5—Even the concerned US university and its medical education system might benefit in one or more of the above-mentioned ways.





6--At a general level, it would encourage better understanding between the Indian and the American people.








NOTE-- Mt Sinai & Cornell have already set up a medical school in Doha, Qatar, by the name WCMC-Q (Weill- Cornell Medical College, Qatar), on the lines of the Weill- Cornell Medical College-New York city.  The faculty in US has dual affiliation and provides either distance or on site medical education. It claims to be the first US medical school setup outside US. The fees are about 30,000 dollars per year, which would be about 15 lakh Indian rupees an year.  This is not different from the expenses (fees plus capitation fee) that one may have to incur currently in some private medical colleges in India. The education is very rounded and the curriculum includes humanities and the arts. Teaching is not purely didactic.








M C Gupta





22 March 2010