Extract from the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2017

1.The undergraduate medical education program is designed with a goal to create an "Indian Medical Graduate" (IMG) possessing requisite knowledge, skills, attitudes, values and responsiveness, so that he or she may function appropriately and effectively as a doctor of first contact of the community while being globally relevant.

Roles of the Indian Medical Graduate

In order to fulfill this goal, the IMG must be able to function in the following roles appropriately and effectively:

• Clinician who understands and provides preventive, promotive, curative, palliative and holistic care with compassion.
• Leader and member of the health care team and system with capabilities to collect, analyze, synthesize and communicate health data appropriately.
• Communicator with patients, families, colleagues and community.
• Lifelong learner committed to continuous improvement of skills and knowledge.
• Professional who is committed to excellence, is ethical, responsive and accountable to patients, community and profession.

Competencies

Competency based learning would include designing and implementing medical education curriculum that focuses on the desired and observable ability in real life situations. In order to effectively fulfill the roles as listed in item 2 above, the Indian Medical Graduate would have obtained the following set of competencies at the time of graduation:

Clinician

Who understands and provides preventive, promotive, curative, palliative and holistic care with compassion:

• 3.1.1. Demonstrate knowledge of normal human structure, function and development from a molecular, cellular, biologic, clinical, behavioral and social perspective.
• 3.1.2. Demonstrate knowledge of abnormal human structure, function and development from a molecular, cellular, biological, clinical, behavioural and social perspective.
• 3.1.3. Demonstrate knowledge of medico-legal, societal, ethical and humanitarian principles that influence health care.
• 3.1.4. Demonstrate knowledge of national and regional health care policies including the National Health Mission (NHM), frameworks, economics and systems that influence health promotion, health care delivery, disease prevention, effectiveness, responsiveness, quality and patient safety.
• 3.1.5. Demonstrate ability to elicit and record from the patient, and other relevant sources including relatives and caregivers, a history that is complete and relevant to disease identification, disease prevention and health promotion.
• 3.1.6. Demonstrate ability to elicit and record from the patient, and other relevant sources including relatives and caregivers, a history that is contextual to gender, age, vulnerability, social and economic status, patient preferences, beliefs and values.
• 3.1.7. Demonstrate ability to perform a physical examination that is complete and relevant to disease identification, disease prevention and health promotion.
• 3.1.8. Demonstrate ability to perform a physical examination that is contextual to gender, social and economic status, patient preferences and values.
• 3.1.9. Demonstrate effective clinical problem solving, judgment and ability to interpret and integrate available data in order to address patient problems, generate differential diagnoses and develop individualized management plans that include preventive, promotive and therapeutic goals.
• 3.1.10. Maintain accurate, clear and appropriate records of the patient in conformation with legal and administrative frameworks.
• 3.1.11. Demonstrate ability to choose the appropriate diagnostic tests and interpret these tests based on scientific validity, cost effectiveness and clinical context.
• 3.1.12. Demonstrate ability to prescribe and safely administer appropriate therapies including nutritional interventions, pharmacotherapy and interventions based on the principles of rational drug therapy, scientific validity, evidence and cost that conform to established national and regional health programs and policies for the following:
  • a. Disease prevention,
  • b. Health promotion and cure,
  • c. Pain and distress alleviation, and
  • d. Rehabilitation and palliation.
• 3.1.13. Demonstrate ability to provide a continuum of care at the primary and/or secondary level that addresses chronicity, mental and physical disability.
• 3.1.14. Demonstrate ability to appropriately identify and refer patients who may require specialized or advanced tertiary care.
• 3.1.15. Demonstrate familiarity with basic, clinical and translational research as it applies to the care of the patient.

Leader and member of the health care team and system

• 3.2.1. Work effectively and appropriately with colleagues in an inter-professional health care team respecting diversity of roles, responsibilities and competencies of other professionals.
• 3.2.2. Recognize and function effectively, responsibly and appropriately as a health care team leader in primary and secondary health care settings.
• 3.2.3. Educate and motivate other members of the team and work in a collaborative and collegial fashion that will help maximize the health care delivery potential of the team.
• 3.2.4. Access and utilize components of the health care system and health delivery in a manner that is appropriate, cost effective, fair and in compliance with the national health care priorities and policies, as well as be able to collect, analyze and utilize health data.
• 3.2.5. Participate appropriately and effectively in measures that will advance quality of health care and patient safety within the health care system.
• 3.2.6. Recognise and advocate health promotion, disease prevention and health care quality improvement through prevention and early recognition: in a) lifestyle diseases, and b) cancer in collaboration with other members of the health care team.

Communicator with patients, families, colleagues and community

• 3.3.1. Demonstrate ability to communicate adequately, sensitively, effectively and respectfully with patients in a language that the patient understands and in a manner that will improve patient satisfaction and health care outcomes.
• 3.3.2. Demonstrate ability to establish professional relationships with patients and families that are positive, understanding, humane, ethical, empathetic, and trustworthy.
• 3.3.3. Demonstrate ability to communicate with patients in a manner respectful of patient’s preferences, values, prior experience, beliefs, confidentiality and privacy.
• 3.3.4. Demonstrate ability to communicate with patients, colleagues and families in a manner that encourages participation and shared decision-making.

Lifelong learner committed to continuous improvement of skills and knowledge

• 3.4.1. Demonstrate ability to perform an objective self-assessment of knowledge and skills, continue learning, refine existing skills and acquire new skills.
• 3.4.2. Demonstrate ability to apply newly gained knowledge or skills to the care of the patient.
• 3.4.3. Demonstrate ability to introspect and utilize experiences, to enhance personal and professional growth and learning.
• 3.4.4. Demonstrate ability to search (including through electronic means), and critically evaluate the medical literature and apply the information in the care of the patient.
• 3.4.5. Be able to identify and select an appropriate career pathway that is professionally rewarding and personally fulfilling.

Professional who is committed to excellence, is ethical, responsive and accountable to patients, community and the profession

• 3.5.1. Practice selflessness, integrity, responsibility, accountability and respect.
• 3.5.2. Respect and maintain professional boundaries between patients, colleagues and society.
• 3.5.3. Demonstrate ability to recognize and manage ethical and professional conflicts.
• 3.5.4. Abide by prescribed ethical and legal codes of conduct and practice.
• 3.5.5. Demonstrate a commitment to the growth of the medical profession as a whole.