Dhaka: Health Reform Commission has recommended shutting down substandard public and private medical colleges and creating opportunities for expatriate Bangladeshi students to return home to prevent brain drain. The commission made the suggestion in its report submitted to the chief adviser on May 5.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the report highlighted various recommendations, including 32 short- and medium-term proposals. It emphasized that comprehensive, policy-based, and structural reforms are essential to improve the quality of medical education and achieve international recognition. The report called for regular evaluation of medical colleges and universities based on public health needs, student-teacher ratio, institutional capacity, and global standards set by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME).
Based on these evaluations, the institutions should be restructured, and the number of institutions and available seats should be readjusted accordingly. The report also suggested that when establishing joint-venture medical colleges and universities with internationally renowned institutions, WFME standards must be ensured. Additionally, the education structure should be improved by introducing a five-day academic week to increase student engagement and reduce the workload on teachers.
The report emphasized the need to prevent brain drain by removing unnecessary barriers in the admission process for students studying through English medium and creating opportunities for expatriate Bangladeshi students to return to the country. It also called for harmonizing FCPS (Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons) and MD (Doctor of Medicine) or MS (Master of Surgery) courses in terms of curriculum.
Furthermore, the commission recommended the effective introduction of Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) and Community Oriented Medical Education (COME) at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels to ensure students achieve full competence in knowledge, skills, and professional behavior. The 12-member commission was formed in November last year, headed by Prof Dr AK Azad Khan, president of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh.