Consortium Project

During 1987-95, AIIMS, in partnership with three more leading medical schools in India (Institute of Medical Sciences, B.H.U., Varanasi, C.M.C., Vellore, JIPMER, Pondicherry) and   Department of Medical Education, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA, launched a major WHO Project of forming a Consortium of Medical Institutions for Reform of Medical Education.  

The Consortium Institutions adopted “Inquiry-driven Strategies for Innovations in Medical Education”. This included use of a common protocol, viz.,   inquiry into the deficiencies by collecting a data base, identifying innovations and implementing these innovations. The study was conducted  by an interdisciplinary core  group in each institution, especially involving clinical faculty. A series of workshops were held at CMC, Vellore, JIPMER, Pondicherry, Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi, in addition to  Delhi for collecting a database, identifying deficiencies and initiating some innovations in undergraduate medical education. Though initially started with four institutes, the consortium was gradually extended to cover 16 medical colleges across the country.                 Some of the deliberations of the consortium include:

 ·         A list  of essential skills for first contact physicians, which  provides a basis for organizing teaching/ learning activities;

·         Preparation  of a national curriculum document  in which  topics are classified as 'must know' and 'good to know' in each discipline;

·         Framing of  Integrated teaching modules, offering a holistic view of the subject on important / common health problems .

·         Introduction of courses onBehavioural Sciences and Medical Ethics