Date:21/05/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/05/21/stories/2003052100711002.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Support the strike

Sir, — I disagree with Dr. B. Ramamurthi's view that opening of private medical colleges will improve the quality of education ( May 19 ). Everybody is aware of the fate that has befallen the engineering courses with a plethora of colleges opened on every road, with no concern for quality or facilities required for training. The consequences for the society are far more serious with medical education. Imagine medical students practising anatomy or surgery on models instead of real specimens and patients and the disastrous consequences when they are let loose on the public to practice medicine and surgery? The medicos' strike is just and the public should extend full support.

Arun Kumar,
Chennai

Sir, — I dispute the points raised by Dr. Ramamurthi. The striking medicos are not against private colleges, but against commercialisation of education. The medicos apprehend that if the situation is allowed to continue numerous colleges would come up without proper infrastructure and become unwieldy like engineering institutions and education would be meaningless.

When the Government claims that many medicos are available (now employed on contract basis) why are they not being utilised for the service of the rural poor and why the need for further intake of students? The Government should increase the strength of the faculty and improve the infrastructure (now lacking in Government colleges).

A. Sarangan,
Madurai, T.N.