VIJAYAWADA: The shortage in the number of surgical oncologists in the country is increasing rapidly, resulting in poor doctor-patient ratio. Keeping this in mind, the NTRUHS is planning to introduce superspeciality courses like medical oncology, surgical oncology, neonatology and surgical gastro oncology to fill the doctor-patient gap from the next academic year.
“We have few surgical and medical oncologists in the country against the requirement and demand for them is increasing by the day. The medical students, who have completed MD (Medicine) or MS (Radiotherapy) or MD (Paediatrics) are eligible for DM in Medical Oncology, Neonatology and Surgical oncology,” said V-C Ravi Raju.
As the geriatric medicine is gaining importance with the increasing number of aged people in the state and since the course is being offered at colleges outside the state to cater to the needs of the students and provide them with an opportunity to complete their MD course within the state, the NTRUHS is also offering post-graduate courses like MD in family medicine, geriatric medicine and critical care medicine from the next year.
Moreover, the family medicine course deals with all aspects of medical care for children, women and senior citizens.