A third reich approach by the Medical Council of India.

This letter is in response to Editorial by SB Bavdekar and MS Tullu Re: Research publications for academic career advancement: An idea whose time has come. But is this the right way?

The policy on promotions (POPs)[1] is in conflict with the very objectives of the Medical Council of India (MCI). These objectives are to maintain uniform standards of medical education[2] but the circular on publications is encroaching into a domain that is neither necessary nor relevant. The Government of India is already taking steps to enhance medical research in the country as a part of its 12th 5 year plan.[3] Bavdekar and Tullu have rightly pointed out that it is definitely not possible for the MCI to check the quality of the journals. It is also not possible for the MCI to address research integrity, ensuring research funding, building research infrastructure, and handling research complaints among other things.[4] Unfortunately, research is not a prerequisite for establishing medical colleges and comes into the picture much later.[5] It is also not possible and practical for the external agencies to provide research funding and with several new medical colleges coming up, the MCI circular on publications for promotions has put most medical colleges in a very difficult position. While the suggestions by the authors on improving the POP and their request to the MCI for revealing the rationale behind the move are praiseworthy[6] this will not work unless an office of research integrity is created in our country. Rather than discussing the pitfalls within the policy document we must urge the MCI to engage in dialogue with the state governments to work out a model for facilitating research if at all original research is what MCI expects from doctors working as faculty in medical colleges. It is true that well-planned medical research is fundamental to the improvement of overall health,[7] the argument that medical research in medical colleges, by forcing it on faculty, might improve the quality of medical education is more of belief rather than a hard fact. The fundamental flaw in POP is that it is up for implementation in the absence of government enabled legislation for research misconduct[89] and this is detrimental and can lead to harm. Research in a developing country like India must have policy implications. The MCI must cooperate with the already existing research bodies in the country, which decide the need and direction for research, and must refrain from inadvertently enabling the creation of a parallel universe of forced and directionless research in the country.

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