GUIDELINES FOR COMPETENCY BASED POSTGRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAMMES

FOR GENERAL MEDICINE

Preamble:
A postgraduate specialist having undergone the required training should be able to recognize the
health needs of the community, should be competent to handle effectively medical problems and should
be aware of the recent advances pertaining to his speciality. The PG student should acquire the basic skills
in teaching of Medical / Para-medical students. He / she is also expected to know the principles of
research methodology and modes of consulting library.
Programme Objective:
At the end of postgraduate training the student should be able to:Practice his speciality ethically
Demonstrate sufficient understanding of basic sciences related to his speciality.
Diagnosis and manage majority of conditions in his speciality (clinically and with the help of
relevant investigations)
Plan and advise measures for the prevention and rehabilitation of patients belonging to his
speciality
Play the assigned role in the implementation of National Health Programs.
Demonstrate competence in basic concepts or research methodology.
Develop good teaching skills.
3.

Specific learning objectives:

a)

Theoretical Knowledge: A student should have fair knowledge of basic sciences

(Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pathology and Pharmacology_ as
applied to his speciality. He / she should acquire in-depth knowledge of his subject
including recent advances. He should be fully conversant with the bedside procedures
(diagnostic and therapeutic) and having knowledge of latest diagnostics and therapeutics
available.

b)

Clinical / Practical skills: A student should be expert in good history taking, physical
examination, providing basic life support and advanced cardiac life support, common
procedures like FNAC, Biopsy, aspiration from serous cavities, lumber, puncture etc. He
/ she should be able to choose the required investigations.

c)

Research:

He / she should know the basic concepts of research methodology, plan a

research project and should know how to consult library. Basic knowledge of statistics is
also required.
d)

Teaching:

Should learn the basic methodology of teaching and develop competence in

teaching medical / paramedical students.

4.

Postgraduate Training:
Didactic lectures are of least importance; seminars, journal clubs, symposia, reviews and
guest lectures should get priority for theoretical knowledge, Bedside teaching, grand rounds,
interactive group discussions and clinical demonstration should be the hallmark of clinical /
practical learning. Student should have hand-on training in performing various procedures
(medical / surgical concerning his subject) and ability to interpret various tests / investigations.
Exposure to newer specialized diagnostic / therapeutic procedures concerning his subject should
be given.

A. Clinical postings:
I.

A major of tenure of posting should be in internal medicine. It should include care of inpatients, out-patients, special clinics and maintenance of case records for both in-and outpatients.

II. Exposure to the following areas (which must be an integral constituent of medicine
department) must be done:1. Medical ICU
2. Medical ICCU and noninvasive cardiac-diagnostics like TMT, echo etc.
3. Dialysis section
4. Endoscopy
III. Rotation of Posting
1. Inter-unit rotation in the department should be done for a period of up to one year
(divided during the first year and third year while candidate stays in the parent unit
through out the duration of his thesis work). Some exposure in psychiatry, dermatology.
Paediatrics and chest & TB should also be done.
B. Clinical meetings:
There should be an intra- and inter-departmental meetings for discussing the uncommon /
interesting medical problems.

Each student must be asked to present a specified number of cases for clinical discussion, perform
procedures / tests / operations / present seminars / review articles from various journals in inter-unit /
interdepartmental teaching sessions. They should be entered in a Log Book and signed by the authorized
teacher and HOD.
Thesis Writing: Thesis writing is compulsory
Presentation / publication of papers in conference will be desirable
Teaching:

Each PG student will be required to teach undergraduate (clinical demonstration) at

least 20 sessions

5.

Postgraduate examination (50 marks for passing)

Thesis to be submitted last 6 months before

Theory Examination each paper 100 marks 3 hors duration

Section with marks
2 sections each having two long questions
Paper I

16 marks each and 3 short notes 18 marks

Total Marks 100
2 sections each having two long questions

Paper II

16 marks each and 3 short notes 18 marks

Total Marks 100
2 sections each having two long questions

Paper III

16 marks each and 3 short notes 18 marks

Total Marks 100

Syllabus to be included
Basic sciences in General Medicine, Genetics,
Nutrition, Immunology, Infectious Diseases
Cardiovascular System, Respiratory system,
Nephrology, Rheumatology, Dermatology
Gastroenterology, Narrow system, Hematology,
Oncology, Endocrinology, Psychiatry

5 questions of 25 marks each out of which

Paper IV

question to be attempted

Recent advances in General Medicine

Total 100 marks

Total Theory

= 400 Marks

Viva Voce
Due weightage should be given to Log Book Records and day-to-day observation during
the training.

Practical Examination

Long Case (One)

Short Cases (Two)

Viva (Four Tables)

Description

Marks

Preparation Time

Assessment Time

Neurology

100

45 Minutes

20 Minutes

50 marks each 100

15 minutes each

10 Minutes

System other than

long case
Radiology

25

5 Minutes

-------- Lab report

25

5 Minutes

Therapeutic

25

5 Minutes

Dissertation

25

5 Minutes

Total Marks

300

emergencies

Minimum Passing marks 50%

6.

Course content (components of curriculum)

No limit be fixed and no fixed number of topics can be prescribed as course contents. He is
expected to know his subject in depth, however, emphasis should be on the diseases / health
problems most prevalent in that area. Knowledge of recent advances and basic sciences as
applicable to his / her speciality should get high priority. Competence in surgical skills
commensurate with the speciality (actual hand on training) must be ensured.
Details of Course Content:
Disorders of Cardiovascular System
Respiratory Diseases
Gastro intestinal disorders
Hepatobiliary Disorders

Principles of Medicine

Endocrinology
Neurology
Nephrology
Metabolic Diseases
Rheumatology
Haematology
Nutritional deficiency diseases
Immunology & Allergy

Infectious diseases
Parasitology
Environmental disorders

Practice of Medicine and Therapeutics

Fluid & electrolyte disorders

Poisoning
Genetic & Molecular diseases
Exergencies
National Health Programmes
Recent Advances
Other Misc. disorders
Medical Ethics or legal
Liabilities (CPA)
Books and Journals

Harrisons Principles &

Suggested for reading

Practice of Medicine
Prices text book of medicine
API text book of medicine
Davidsons principles and
Practice of Medicine
Medical emergencies in
General practice by S.P. Gupta

Journal

J. Assoc. Phys. India

British medical journal
Postgraduate medical journal
Lancet
Journal of Americal medical
Association
British Heart Journal (Heart)
Medical clinics of North
America