Medical College Director Interview: We need better healthcare laws, says VMMC Principal

Careers360 interviewing Dr. N.N Mathur, Principal at Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC), brings you insights on funding scenario for health care in India. In this interview, Dr. Mathur speaks on slow research-orientation in the nation besides rural healthcare services.

Read on to know what the VMMC Principal shares on uniqueness about the medical college and his take on corruption in medical institution of India.

Careers360: What is unique about VMMC?
Dr. N.N. Mathur: You will not find such a strategically positioned medical institute anywhere in the world. If you draw a circle of one kilometre diameter around the institute, you will find the highest concentration of doctors and patients across the globe. So Vardhaman students get the richest source of patients for clinical understanding. Across the road is AIIMS and on the ring road is National Medical library run by Director General of Health Services.

Careers360: How do you see the funding scenario for health sector?
Dr. N.N. Mathur: Unfortunately, the health sector doesn’t get good money. All the money goes for treating the patients. There is no money for research or attending conferences for the doctors.

Careers360: Why is research-orientation so low in India?
Dr. N.N. Mathur: There is hardly any good research. Institution-wise we do have good projects but we focus more on case series. There are so many rare cases to talk about. We lack in basic research because of time and money. There is very little time left for doctors for research, they usually have hectic schedule for 10-12 hours. When I visited Cincinnati Children Hospital at Ohio, US, I found that they have separate research block for doctors. Thousands of staff help in typing, collating data. If a doctor gets that much of support then he can do research after OPD timings. Here he has to switch on the computer; take the patients file; make the data which anybody can do. We do not have manpower, funding and time.

Careers360: Is doctor-patient ratio hype?
Dr. N.N. Mathur: Yes, I don’t think the ratio is high anymore. There are innumerable medical colleges – more than half are private and somebody has to think what will happen if we keep producing these doctors for next 20 years. Do we really require such a big number? I think we are over-producing doctors. In Russia, you cannot have redundant phenomena of sticking to same intake for ages. They will not advertise 150 admissions every year. On the contrary, they will be doing their analysis on how many doctors will be required in next 20 years and come out with conclusion that this year I will be happy with 110. If you forecast that the number of neuro-surgeons in next 20 years will be less, then we will increase the super speciality intake to five or six. In India, we are playing with same intake figures for the last 50 years.

Careers360: Why rural healthcare is dismal?
Dr. N.N. Mathur: Yes, India will always be struggling for doctors even if we make three times more doctors to work with villages. The problem is not with the production, but the issue is with the placement. Doctors are roaming around without jobs. None of them are willing to work in villages as there is no proper infrastructure for them. Why should he work there? He will not get proper housing facilities; accessibility to good education will always be a challenge for his children. He is not god; he requires basic amenities. UPSC, UGC must start putting up vacancies and government must implement strategies to improve working conditions in these rural areas.

Careers360: What is your take on corruption in medical institutes?
Dr. N.N. Mathur: Corruption in medical institutes is like cancer. There is no quick fix for corruption. We must learn from some western countries – they punish those who violate rules and regulations. In India, the system is so powerful that everyone is left loose. It’s high time that we stick to good governance, strict rules, transparency and zero tolerance to resolve the issue of corruption. We badly need better laws for healthcare system, so that doctors follow the strict ethical rules of their profession. It’s high time that we stick to good governance, strict rules, transparency and zero tolerance to resolve the issue of corruption. We badly need better laws for healthcare system, so that doctors follow the ethical rules of their profession.

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