With the State’s Directorate of Medical Education celebrating 60 years, health officials stressed the need to focus on emerging medical landscapes such as non communicable diseases (NCD), mental health, geriatric care and impact of climate changes.
On Tuesday, Health Minister Ma. Subramanian participated in the 60th diamond jubilee celebrations of the directorate and inaugurated the medical science conference.
Addressing the gathering, Health Secretary P. Senthilkumar raised the need to look forward to competence-based training, simulation, including more use of digital platforms and a more inter-disciplinary approach for students and professionals.Noting that Artificial Intelligence is emerging as a major factor in the medical sector, he said, “Rapid developments are altering the way we will be dealing with disease diagnosis and treatment. We need to prepare ourselves and our students for AI and related technologies.”
He also stressed the need to focus on research and innovation. “We have a robust network of medical college hospitals. How do we make these institutions knowledge-generating centres? All these institutions need to identify protocols for local diseases, health system research and indigenous solutions for various tropical diseases and emerging diseases,” he added.
