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| LETTER TO EDITOR |
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| Year : 2023 | Volume
: 6
| Issue : 1 | Page : 119 |
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District residency program: seeking opportunity in the disruption
Ganesh Singh Dharmshaktu
Department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College, Haldwani, Uttarakhand, India
| Date of Submission | 02-Sep-2022 |
| Date of Decision | 14-Nov-2022 |
| Date of Acceptance | 19-Nov-2022 |
| Date of Web Publication | 27-Dec-2022 |
Correspondence Address:
Ganesh Singh Dharmshaktu
Department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College, Haldwani - 263 139, Uttarakhand
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/jodp.jodp_77_22
How to cite this article:
Dharmshaktu GS. District residency program: seeking opportunity in the disruption. J Orthop Dis Traumatol 2023;6:119 |
How to cite this URL:
Dharmshaktu GS. District residency program: seeking opportunity in the disruption. J Orthop Dis Traumatol [serial online] 2023 [cited 2023 Jan 28];6:119. Available from: https://jodt.org/text.asp?2023/6/1/119/365293 |
Dear Editor,
We read with interest the succinct editorial entitled “Postgraduate orthopedic training: Where are we today?”[1] It addresses a contemporary and burning issue requiring frequent debates. It touched the raw nerve endings of many concerned teachers and stakeholders who find the article echoing their perception. Training period indeed is not sufficient for even superficial overview of any vast discipline. Many residents find their tenure ending just when they were getting hang of the orthopedics. Initial year whizzes past, leaving them engaged in basic clinical and ward duties. Study, preparation, and examination take away last few months of the training. It is unlikely that the student shall see and treat cases as described in the objective of National Medical Council navigating rotational postings. The possibility of meeting these standards in many newly established colleges and those with resource-crunch are even remote. The perennial shortage of faculty compounds the problem leaving them high and dry.[2]
The recently added compulsory initiative called “district residency programme” (DRP) is an ambitious project that has to be part of the postgraduate training program.[3] This shall have further disruptive impact on the aforementioned training-related issues in its initial years. The advantages of the said program shall require future assessment and research. The shortage of three long months should call for an intelligent tweaking of training schedule. Like every disruption, initial years shall prove teething troubles before everything is routine. The shortage of 3-months of training at parent institute shall surely affect teaching-learning opportunity.
The perception and reality about many, if not all, district hospitals as unfavorable places for learning is a prevalent notion. As the residents have to abide by the rules, they must adapt and be optimistic about the transition. In most cases, DRP shall provide a break from routine stuff which in most cases is lesser in burden at district hospitals. Students, thus, can find more time for studies and revision during this tenure. The number of cases in most district hospitals do not match to that in medical college, leaving the resident more opportunity to clinically examine and spend time with patients. Clinical examination that was hurriedly done in the hectic medical college clinic can be done with far less distractions. This shall certainly give them an upper hand during case presentations in the coming postgraduate exams. Thesis work can have the attention it deserves leading to its gradual completion. The most important is gaining a fresh perception on the issues that make government clinics work and learn managing practical problems which shall come handy in their future practice be it in government or private setup. Being posted in resource-limited environment frustrates but also generates innovative solutions to mundane problems if we look in the right places. Opportunity to learn from senior colleagues from provincial/state health sector, who carry a wealth of knowledge can be rewarding. Making best use of given opportunity is a continuous life-long process and deeply ingrained in the practice of medicine. DRP should be seen as an extension of training that provides various unique life experiences.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | |  |
| 1. | Runu R. Postgraduate orthopedic training-where are we today? J Orthop Dis Traumatol 2022;5:115-6.  [Full text] |
| 2. | Sheth A. Current scenario and future perspectives of postgraduate medical education in India. Apollo Med 2022;19:20-3. [Full text] |
| 3. | Gazette of India: Extraordinary. Board of Governors in Suppression of Medical Council of India Notification. Part III-Sec. 4. India: Gazette of India: Extraordinary; 2020. |
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