Medical sciences academic staff.

Byline: Prof Dr Zil-e-Rubab - Karachi

THE Society of Medical Biochemists consisting of hundreds of senior medical faculty has serious concerns over the induction of non-medical faculty to teach basic medical sciences with reference to the agenda nine of the minutes of the third council meeting of the Pakistan Medical Commission held on Nov 30, 2019.

According to it, MBBS degree will not be mandatory for registration of faculty of medical or dental education.

Medical biochemistry taught in medical/dental colleges is entirely different from general biochemistry taught to bachelor's and master's students. Medical biochemistry is based on clinical scenarios/problem-based learning, horizontal, vertical and spiral integration of all medical sciences to produce a competent and safe doctor for patients rather than producing bachelor's or master's graduates, which they would become if they are taught by non-medical personnel.

Non-medical teacher cannot integrate the various medical sciences because they have never seen/treated a patient or real life clinical problems. Moreover, we cannot implement the standards practised in the US, UK and Australia as they hold entirely...