Indian doctors seek American standards

Are you upset when your doctor sounds like Apu from The Simpsons?

Get used to it.

India has taken the first step toward putting its medical education on a par with that of the U.S., enabling more Indian physicians to join the American profession.

A unit of the U.S. Department of Education has given its approval to the Medical Council of India's curriculum. Vedprakash Mishra, who chairs the council's Post Graduate Medical Education Committee, led the effort.

Contrary to some of the publicity coming out on this, the move does not automatically put Indian medical education on a par with that of the U.S.

Only 10% of Indian medical schools have adopted the processes of the country's National Accreditation and Assessment Council.

The schools as well as the courses need approval before the education can be considered at par.But American schools like Harvard are working closely with Indian schools to make that happen.

In the short run, this is most likely to make medical tourism to India appear a responsible choice. It's part of a long-term integration process aimed at making the younger generation of Indian doctors true colleagues of those in the West.

So no Slushy jokes, please.