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The first centre for MRCP Part 2 (clinical)
examination in India has been established at the Sri Ramachandra
University, Porur. The university recently signed an MoU with the
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Royal College of
Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and Royal College of
Physicians of London.
The establishment of the special clinical
skills and examination centre at Sri Ramachandra University now
makes it possible for doctors in India and other parts of South
Asia to appear for all components of the MRCP examination without
the need to travel to the UK. This provides enormous advantages
in terms of logistics and expenses, said V R Venkatachalam,
Chancellor of the university.
Over the past 22 years, the Sri Ramachandra
University has been involved in providing healthcare and
education of the highest standards. The efforts started in 1985
with the establishment of the Sri Ramachandra Medical College &
Research Institute and the tertiary-care teaching hospital which
has grown enormously and has developed the capacity to provide
answers to all kinds of health problems and education and
research opportunities for an ever-widening group of aspiring
youngsters.
Today, the alumni of Sri Ramachandra
University occupy responsible positions in healthcare
institutions across the world. Many of its graduates have come
out with excellent grades in global rating scales like USMLE
(United States Medical Licensing Examination), PLAB (Professional
and Linguistic Assessments Board) UK, American Board examinations
and in assessments conducted by the royal colleges of the UK.
Until recently, many aspiring doctors had to
travel to the UK in order to participate in the MRCP examinations
conducted by the royal colleges. This involved enormous expenses
in addition to the need to get registered by the General Medical
Council, UK, to practise medicine.
The importance of establishing examination
centres in India:
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh,
Glasgow and London have joined hands and have recently made it
possible for doctors to appear for MRCP examinations in different
parts of the world. It became possible for doctors in several
other countries to complete the theory and practical examinations
in their own countries without the need to travel to the UK. Each
year, approximately 25,000 doctors make use of this opportunity.
The Royal College of Physicians recently
introduced measures to conduct theory examinations for MRCP in
four centres in India: Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and Kerala. The
all-important Part-2 of the MRCP examination (clinical
examination that included patient encounter sessions) was still
not available in India.
Sri Ramachandra Clinical Skills &
Examination Centre meets with stringent UK criteria:
In the last few days, leadership from the
three Royal Colleges of Physicians (London, Glasgow & Edinburgh)
led by Dr Neil Dewhurst, director of the UK MRCP Examination
Board, have been at Sri Ramachandra University preparing the
ground for the conduct of the examinations starting from November
2007.
They have also been training selected senior
faculty from Sri Ramachandra University and others from other
parts of the country and from centres abroad to be examiners for
MRCP. The royal college functionaries have expressed their
satisfaction and appreciation for the enormous efforts by the Sri
Ramachandra University in developing the infrastructure and
logistic support to meet the stringent standards of the UK MRCP
Board, Venkatachalam said.
Venkatachalam said the following were the
advantages of the new examination centre at Sri Ramachandra
University:
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The availability of a full-fledged clinical
skills and examination centre will make it possible for a large
number of doctors from all over India and neighbouring
countries in South Asia to take all components of the MRCP
examination at Chennai.
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The conduct of the MRCP examinations at Sri
Ramachandra University will provide opportunities for the
teaching faculty of this university to receive first hand
experience and training in strategies for assessment of
competencies before certifying postgraduate doctors.
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The MoU signed by Sri Ramachandra University
and the UK royal colleges of physicians will open more avenues
to develop wider academic relationships in several other areas
in future.
R Rangaraj
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