Respiratory Medicine Curriculum to be reinstated in MBBS Courses amidst Rising Pollution Concerns
New Delhi, November 22: A group of over 6,000 respiratory medicine specialists has urged the National Medical Commission (NMC) to reinstate the department of respiratory medicine in the MBBS curriculum amid rising Air Quality Index (AQI) levels across several regions. The Indian Chest Society, representing the specialists, expressed concerns over the NMC's decision to remove Respiratory Medicine departments from medical college hospitals.
The group emphasized that the inclusion of respiratory medicine as a dedicated department will ensure that future medical graduates are well-equipped to tackle the growing respiratory health challenges facing India. With severe pollution leading to an increase in respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, the Indian Chest Society stressed the need for comprehensive care.
"This decision threatens to undermine the nation's capacity to manage respiratory health effectively," Dr Arun Madan, Professor and Head of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Delhi's Hindurao Medical College, said. "Without structured training led by respiratory specialists, medical students will miss critical learning experiences, which could hinder their ability to diagnose and treat respiratory diseases effectively."
Dr GC Khilnani, former head of the department of pulmonology and sleep medicine at AIIMS-Delhi, argued that India's high level of pollution poses a significant risk to respiratory health. "Removing respiratory medicine from the curriculum may hinder medical colleges' ability to support programmes such as tuberculosis elimination, compromising efforts to control TB and other respiratory diseases," he said.
The Indian Chest Society also highlighted the importance of primary physicians in addressing rising respiratory diseases, emphasizing that the absence of Respiratory Medicine departments limits comprehensive care and diminishes hospitals' capacity to meet broader community health needs. The group urged the NMC to reconsider its decision, given the high burden of respiratory diseases in India and the need for effective management.
If implemented, the reinstatement of respiratory medicine as a dedicated department will provide students with structured training, enabling them to diagnose and treat complex respiratory diseases effectively. With over 6,000 patients suffering from respiratory illnesses daily, the Indian Chest Society stressed that timely intervention is crucial to address this growing burden on India's healthcare system.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized that achieving even the first interim air quality target could prevent 300,000 deaths annually. The Indian Chest Society and various respiratory medicine experts reiterated their calls for reinstatement of Respiratory Medicine departments in MBBS curriculum, underscoring the need for urgent action to address India's rapidly deteriorating air quality.