Shortage of super specialists in Tamil Nadu

Amid increasing incidences of heart diseases, cancers, strokes and other non-communicable diseases, the city has been experiencing a significant demand for super specialists. 

While there has been a spike in the number of super speciality courses, doctors in Chennai said that the demand for such specialists is much more than its supply. 

“There has been a spurt in the number of courses available in the city and the country as compared to the scenario five years ago but we are nowhere near meeting the requirement,” said Dr K Selvakumar, head of the department of neurosurgery at Sri Ramachandra Medical College in Ramachandra Nagar.

Neuro surgery, cardio vascular surgery, cardio thoracic surgery, child psychiatry and urogynaecology are a few of the courses that have been introduced in the recently. With only 1,600 neuro surgeons in India as compared to over 28,000 in Japan or 25,000 in the USA, we are lagging far behind,” Selvakumar said. “Also, our country has not more than 5,000 psychiatrists, which can barely cater to one third of the population,” he added.

With the increase in population, the number of complicated diseases is also on the rise. “Super specialists were not in such demand till about five years ago. But, there has been a steep increase in such cases over a few years,” said Dr Anna Pulimood, principal of Christian Medical College, Vellore. “Some of the super speciality courses we have include hand surgery, critical care medicine, infectious diseases, gynaecological oncology and hepatobiliary surgery,” she added.

In different parts of the country, people are being diagnosed with complicated cases, many of which cannot be handled by a broad specialist, she said. “With the spread of complicated diseases and with medical and scientific discoveries regarding it doubling every five years, it is quite difficult for a non-super specialist to keep up,” said Dr Pulimood.

“When a patient with a simple, straight forward problem like a headache comes to the hospital, he will not have to see a neurologist. But, if the problem cannot be cured through regular means, he will need to see a specialist for further investigation and diagnosis,” she added.

Stating that Tamil Nadu has over 23 super speciality courses, Dr G R Ravindranath, general secretary, Doctors’ Association for Social Equality said, “We must have more number of super specialty courses to help the people — especially those from rural areas and abroad — who visit the state for treatment.” 

Despite the availability, there seems to be few takers for such courses, said Dr Ravindranath. “Every year, some of these courses have absolutely no takers. The seats lie vacant,” he said, adding that the large amount of deposit that is required to be paid may have been a deterrent for applicants.

CMC, Vellore, too has 23 super speciality courses and has applied for a few more. “Getting sanctions for new courses is a difficult process as the Medical Council of India will need to first introduce the courses before the colleges can take it up. A few more courses, however, are in the pipeline,” said Dr Pulimood.

While Tamil Nadu has 204 seats for super speciality courses, some other states have barely 10. “There should be a balance in the distribution of these courses across the country. Most of them are available in cities which means that the rural population misses out on it,” said Dr Selvakumar. 

Also, there is always a restriction – in terms of the number of persons going for super speciality courses in this country, said the doctor. While many students aim at becoming a specialist, they fail to proceed due the lack of vacancy in the course of their choice,” he added.