The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) has introduced five-year postgraduate (MD, MS) residency courses to 14 more public and private medical colleges and institutes to improve the standard of postgraduate medical education.
More than 600 students have enrolled for the current academic session of the residency course, with more than 300 admitted at the BSMMU and 300 others at 14 medical colleges and institutes.
Classes for the courses began on March 1, while the admission process was completed last November, with around 6,000 students sitting for the admission test.
All traditional postgraduate courses would reportedly be closed gradually and residency courses would be introduced at all 33 affiliated postgraduate institutes.
“It will follow the same curriculum for five-year course. The examination will be held centrally at Dhaka on the same date with same questions. It would definitely elevate the standard of postgraduate medical education,” Professor Dr Ruhul Amin Miah, pro-vice-chancellor of the BSMMU, told the Dhaka Tribune.
He said the residency course was completely different from traditional MD or MS courses, as more emphasis was given on hands-on training than on knowledge-based education.
The BSMMU followed other developed countries in introducing the residency course four years ago, enrolling over 1,200 students since then.
Seeking anonymity, a senior BSMMU official told the Dhaka Tribune that the standard of postgraduate courses and the students’ results were below par, as there was no uniform syllabus or exam system for conducting the courses.
He added that after coming to power in 2008, the Awami League government brought back all postgraduate institutes under the affiliation of the BSMMU, in a bid to ensure uniform standard for all postgraduate courses.
The residency courses have been introduced at 14 medical colleges and institutes.
They include Dhaka Medical College, Sir Salimullah Medical College, Chittagong Medical College, Mymensingh Medical College, Rajshahi Medical College, Rangpur Medical College, Sylhet Medical College, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Chest Disease & Hospital, National Institute of Ophthalmology, Dhaka Dental College, Birdem Academy, Institute of Child and Mother Health, and Khaja Yunus Ali Medical College.
Professor Dr Sayedur Rahman, treasurer of the BSMMU, said training has been provided to course directors, supervisors, managers and co-ordinators of 14 postgraduate institutes over the last two months.
The students of the residency programme do not need to go anywhere outside the BSMMU for any academic purposes during the entire duration of the programme.
A senior professor supervises each student and develops their medical skills through rigorous practical work, intensive study and research.
The standard of education would be elevated once the courses are conducted at the 14 institutes, Dr Sayedur expressed hopes.
