MCh Neurosurgery or
Master of Chirurgiae in Neurosurgery also known as MCh in Neurosurgery is a
super specialty level course for doctors in India that they do after
completion of their postgraduate medical degree course. The duration of this
super specialty course is 3 years, and it deals with the
diagnosis and surgical treatment of patients with injury or diseases/disorders of
the brain, spinal cord and spinal column, and peripheral nerves within all
parts of the body.

The course is a
full-time course pursued at various recognized medical colleges across the
country. Some of the top medical colleges offering this course include All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi,
Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute for Medical Science and Technology,
Thiruvananthapuram, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research,
Chandigarh
and more.

Admission to this course
is done through the NEET-SS Entrance exam conducted by the National Board of
Examinations, followed by counseling based on the scores of the exam that is
conducted by DGHS/MCC/State Authorities.

The fee for pursuing MCh
(Neurosurgery) varies from college to college and may range from Rs.7 thousand
to Rs. 30 lakhs per year.

After completion of
their respective course, doctors can either join the job market or can pursue
certificate courses and Fellowship programmes recognized by NMC and NBE.
Candidates can take decent jobs as Senior residents, Consultants,
etc. with an approximate salary range of Rs 32 lakhs to Rs. 95 lakhs per annum.

What is MCh in Neurosurgery?

Master of Chirurgiae in Neurosurgery,
also known as MCh (Neurosurgery) or MCh in (Neurosurgery) is a three-year super
specialty programme that candidates can pursue after completing a postgraduate
degree.

MCh Neurosurgery provides
training to diagnose and surgically treat patients with injury or
diseases/disorders of the brain, spinal cord and spinal column, and peripheral
nerves within all parts of the body. The speciality of neurosurgical care includes
both adult and pediatric patients. Dependent upon the nature of the injury or
disease a neurological surgeon may provide surgical and/or non-surgical care to the
body.

The postgraduate
students must gain ample knowledge and experience in the diagnosis, and
treatment of patients with acute, serious, and life-threatening medical and
surgical diseases.

PG education intends to
create specialists who can contribute to high-quality health care and advances
in science through research and training.

The required training
done by a postgraduate specialist in the field of Neurosurgery would help the
specialist to recognize the health needs of the community. The student should
be competent to handle medical problems effectively and should be aware of the
recent advances in their specialty.

The candidate is also
expected to know the principles of research methodology and modes of the
consulting library. The candidate should regularly attend conferences,
workshops and CMEs to upgrade her/ his knowledge.

Course
Highlights

Here are some of the
course highlights of MCh in Neurosurgery

Name of Course

MCh in Neurosurgery

Level

Doctorate

Duration of Course

Three years

Course Mode

Full Time

Minimum Academic Requirement

Candidates must have a postgraduate medical
Degree in MS/DNB (General Surgery) obtained from any college/university
recognized by the Medical Council of India (Now NMC)/NBE, this feeder
qualification mentioned here is as of 2022. For any further changes to the
prerequisite requirement please refer to the NBE website.

Admission Process / Entrance Process /
Entrance Modalities

Entrance Exam (NEET-SS)

INI CET for various AIIMS, PGIMER Chandigarh,
JIPMER Puducherry, NIMHANS Bengaluru

Counseling by DGHS/MCC/State Authorities

Course Fees

Rs.7 thousand to Rs. 30 lakhs per year

Average Salary

Rs 32 lakhs to Rs.95 lakhs per annum

Eligibility
Criteria

The eligibility criteria
for MCh in Neurosurgery are defined as the set of rules or minimum
prerequisites that aspirants must meet to be eligible for admission, which
include:

Name of Super Specialty course

Course Type

Prior Eligibility Requirement

Neurosurgery

MCh

MS/DNB (General Surgery)

Note:

· The feeder
qualification for MCh Neurosurgery is defined by the NBE and is subject to
changes by the NBE.

· The feeder
qualification mentioned here is as of 2022.

·For any changes,
please refer to the NBE website.

• The prior entry qualifications
  shall be strictly by Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000,
  and its amendments notified by the NMC and any clarification issued from
  NMC in this regard.
• The candidate must have
  obtained permanent registration with any State Medical Council to be
  eligible for admission.
• The medical college's
  recognition cut-off dates for the Postgraduate Degree courses shall be as
  prescribed by the Medical Council of India (now NMC).

Admission
Process

The admission process
contains a few steps to be followed in order by the candidates for admission to
MCh in Neurosurgery. Candidates can view the complete admission process for MCh
in Neurosurgery mentioned below:

• The NEET-SS or National
  Eligibility Entrance Test for Super specialty courses is a national-level
  master’s level examination conducted by the NBE for admission to
  DM/MCh/DrNB Courses.
• Qualifying Criteria-Candidates
  placed at the 50th percentile or above shall be declared as qualified in
  the NEET-SS in their respective speciality.
• The following Medical
  institutions are not covered under centralized admissions for DM/MCh
  courses through NEET-SS:

1. AIIMS, New Delhi and
other AIIMS

2. PGIMER, Chandigarh

3. JIPMER, Puducherry

4. NIMHANS, Bengaluru

• Candidates from all eligible
  feeder speciality subjects shall be required to appear in the question
  paper of the respective group if they are willing to opt for a
  super-speciality course in any of the super-speciality courses covered in
  that group.
• A candidate can opt for
  appearing in the question papers of as many groups for which his/her
  Postgraduate speciality qualification is an eligible feeder qualification.
• By appearing in the question
  paper of a group and on qualifying for the examination, a candidate shall
  be eligible to exercise his/her choices in the counselling only for those
  super-speciality subjects covered in the said group for which his/ her
  broad speciality is an eligible feeder qualification.

Fees Structure

The fee structure for
MCh in Neurosurgery varies from college to college. The fee is generally less
for Government Institutes and more for private institutes. The average fee
structure for MCh in Neurosurgery is from Rs.7 thousand to Rs. 30 lakhs per
year.

Colleges
offering MCh in Neurosurgery

Various medical colleges
across India offer courses for pursuing MCh in (Neurosurgery).

As per National Medical Commission (NMC) website, the following medical
colleges are offering MCh in (Neurosurgery) courses for the academic year
2022-23.

Sl.No.

Course Name

State

Name and Address of
Medical College / Medical Institution

Management of College

Annual Intake (Seats)

1

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Andhra Pradesh

Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), Tirupati

Govt.

3

2

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam

Govt.

3

3

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Andhra Pradesh

Rangaraya Medical College, Kakinada

Govt.

2

4

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Andhra Pradesh

Guntur Medical College, Guntur

Govt.

4

5

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Andhra Pradesh

NRI Medical College, Guntur

Trust

1

6

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Assam

Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati

Govt.

3

7

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Bihar

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna

Govt.

2

8

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Chandigarh

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh

Govt.

12

9

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Chattisgarh

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur

Govt.

3

10

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Delhi

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

Govt.

20

11

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Delhi

G.B. Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research,
New Delhi

Govt.

6

12

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Delhi

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr RML
Hospital, New Delhi

Govt.

6

13

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Goa

Goa Medical College, Panaji

Govt.

2

14

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Gujarat

SBKS Medical Instt. & Research Centre, Vadodra

Trust

1

15

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Gujarat

B J Medical College, Ahmedabad

Govt.

4

16

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Gujarat

Smt. N.H.L.Municipal Medical College, Ahmedabad

Govt.

4

17

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Haryana

Pt. B D Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak
(Haryana)

Govt.

2

18

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Jammu & Kashmir

Sher-I-Kashmir Instt. Of Medical Sciences, Srinagar

Govt.

4

19

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Jharkhand

Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi

Govt.

4

20

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Karnataka

Vydehi Institute Of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bangalore

Trust

2

21

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Karnataka

Kasturba Medical College, Manipal

Trust

4

22

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Karnataka

National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences, Bangalore

Govt.

10

23

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Karnataka

Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore

Govt.

2

24

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Karnataka

M S Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore

Trust

4

25

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Karnataka

St. Johns Medical College, Bangalore

Trust

1

26

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Karnataka

Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum

Trust

3

27

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Kerala

Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute for Medical Science and Technology,
Thiruvananthapuram

Govt.

3

28

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Kerala

Pushpagiri Institute Of Medical Sciences and Research Centre,
Tiruvalla

Trust

1

29

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Kerala

Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur

Trust

1

30

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Kerala

Government Medical College, Kottayam

Govt.

4

31

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Kerala

Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Calicut

Govt.

2

32

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Kerala

Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram

Govt.

6

33

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Kerala

Government Medical College, Thrissur

Govt.

3

34

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Kerala

T D Medical College, Alleppey (Allappuzha)

Govt.

2

35

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Kerala

Amrita School of Medicine, Elamkara, Kochi

Trust

4

36

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Madhya Pradesh

Gajra Raja Medical College, Gwalior

Govt.

8

37

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Madhya Pradesh

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal

Govt.

4

38

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Madhya Pradesh

Sri Aurobindo Medical College and Post Graduate Institute, Indore

Trust

2

39

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Maharashtra

Dr D Y Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Pimpri,
Pune

Trust

3

40

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Maharashtra

Armed Forces Medical College, Pune

Govt.

3

41

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Maharashtra

Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College, Sion, Mumbai

Govt.

4

42

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Maharashtra

Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences, Mumbai

Govt.

3

43

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Maharashtra

Grant Medical College, Mumbai

Govt.

3

44

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Maharashtra

Seth GS Medical College, and KEM Hospital, Mumbai

Govt.

4

45

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Maharashtra

Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbai

Govt.

4

46

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Maharashtra

B. J. Govt. Medical College, Pune

Govt.

2

47

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Maharashtra

Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth, Karad (Formerly known as Krishna Institute
of Medical Sciences University)

Trust

1

48

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Orissa

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar

Govt.

4

49

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Orissa

SCB Medical College, Cuttack

Govt.

4

50

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Pondicherry

Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research,
Puducherry

Govt.

4

51

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Pondicherry

Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute, Pondicherry

Trust

1

52

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Punjab

Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana

Trust

2

53

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Punjab

Christian Medical College, Ludhiana

Trust

1

54

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Rajasthan

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur

Govt.

6

55

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Rajasthan

SMS Medical College, Jaipur

Govt.

14

56

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Rajasthan

R N T Medical College, Udaipur

Govt.

4

57

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Rajasthan

Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Sitapur, Jaipur

Trust

6

58

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Rajasthan

National Institute of Medical Science & Research, Jaipur

Trust

3

59

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Rajasthan

Dr SN Medical College, Jodhpur

Govt.

4

60

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Tamil Nadu

Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, Chennai

Trust

3

61

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Tamil Nadu

Madras Medical College, Chennai

Govt.

9

62

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Tamil Nadu

SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Chengalpattu

Trust

1

63

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Tamil Nadu

Stanley Medical College, Chennai

Govt.

3

64

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Tamil Nadu

Madurai Medical College, Madurai

Govt.

4

65

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Tamil Nadu

Christian Medical College, Vellore

Trust

6

66

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Tamil Nadu

Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute, Kanchipuram

Trust

1

67

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Tamil Nadu

Coimbatore Medical College, Coimbatore

Govt.

4

68

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Tamil Nadu

Thanjavur Medical College,Thanjavur

Govt.

4

69

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Telangana

Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad

Govt.

4

70

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Telangana

Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad

Govt.

6

71

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Telangana

Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad

Govt.

6

72

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Telangana

Mamata Medical College, Khammam

Trust

2

73

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Uttarakhand

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh

Govt.

20

74

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Uttar Pradesh

Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow

Govt.

6

75

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Uttar Pradesh

King George Medical University, Lucknow

Govt.

8

76

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Uttar Pradesh

Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi

Govt.

4

77

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

Uttar Pradesh

Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow

Govt.

3

78

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

West Bengal

Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Kolkata

Govt.

10

79

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

West Bengal

Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata

Govt.

1

80

M.Ch - Neuro Surgery

West Bengal

Nilratan Sircar Medical College, Kolkata

Govt.

2

Syllabus

MCh in Neurosurgery is a
three years specialization course that provides training in the stream of Neurosurgery.

As
of 27/02/2022 the Competency-Based Curriculum for MCh in Neurosurgery course is
not available on the National Medical Commission's official Website. However, the
course content of AIIMS represented here can be used for reference and an idea of
what a typical Syllabus of an MCh in Neurosurgery course will contain:

SYLLABUS

1.
Clinical Neurosurgery
including history taking, physical examination, diagnosis, selection and
planning of relevant investigations, appropriate treatment and rehabilitation
of patients with neurosurgical disorders including those presenting as
emergencies.

2.
Essentials of Clinical
Neurology especially concerning disorders common in India and those likely
to present to Neurosurgeons.

3.
Basic medical sciences
relevant to the practice of Neurosurgery

4.
Surgical Neuropathology
and the essentials of the Pathology of Neurological disorders likely to present
to the Neurosurgeon.

5.
Performance and
interpretation of Neuroradiological procedures, such as carotid arteriography
and myelography. Familiarity with the technique of selective arteriography and
its interpretation.

6. Principles and interpretation of common Neurophysiological,
Neuro-ophthalmological, Neurootological and Neuroendocrinological tests
especially concerning Neurosurgical disorders.

7. Principles and interpretation of computerized axial tomography,
MRI and other modern investigations.

8. Performance of common neurosurgical operations in the supra and
infra-tentorial compartments in

the spinal canal and the peripheral nerves – initially under the supervision and later independently.

The ability to use the operating microscope is mandatory.

9. Familiarity with various types of anaesthesia used in
neurosurgery their indications and

contraindications, the use of ventilators and techniques of
monitoring and resuscitation.

10. Pharmacology of various drugs used in Neurosurgery.

11. Knowledge of the history of neurological surgery and its
allied disciplines with special reference to India.

12. Knowledge of recent advances in the field of neurological
surgery.

13. Preparation of papers for presentation at scientific
conferences and for publication.

14. Introduction to the techniques involved in the organisation
and development of a department, its

subsections and newer facilities.

15. It is desirable to have microsurgical laboratory training
where candidates learn dissection/suturing

of fine arteries/nerves under a microscope and skull base
dissections.

16. Development of proper attitudes towards patients,
subordinates, colleagues and seniors.

17. Should have basic knowledge about the application of computers

Career Options

After completing an MCh
in Neurosurgery, candidates will get employment opportunities in Government as
well as in the Private sector.

In the Government
sector, candidates have various options to choose from which include Registrar,
Senior Resident, Demonstrator, Tutor etc.

While in the Private
sector, the options include Resident Doctor, Consultant (Neuro Surgery), Visiting Consultant (Neuro Surgery),
Junior Consultant (Neuro Surgery), Senior Consultant (Neuro Surgery), Assistant Professor (Neuro Surgery), Associate Professor
(Neurosurgery).

Courses After
MCh in Neurosurgery Course

MCh in Neurosurgery is a
specialization course that can be pursued after finishing a Postgraduate
medical course. After pursuing a specialization in MCh in Neurosurgery, a
candidate could also pursue certificate courses and Fellowship programmes
recognized by NMC and NBE, where MCh in Neurosurgery is a feeder qualification.

These include
fellowships in:

·
Clinical Fellowships in
Neurosurgery

·
Neurosurgery Spine
Fellowships

·
Paediatric Neurosurgery
Fellowships

Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs) –MCh in Neurosurgery Course

• Question: What is the complete full form of an MCh?

Answer: The full form of
an MCh is Master of Chirurgiae.

• Question: What is an MCh in Neurosurgery?

Answer: MCh Neurosurgery
or Master of Chirurgiae in Neurosurgery also known as MCh in Neurosurgery is a
super specialty level course for doctors in India that they do after
completion of their postgraduate medical degree course.

• Question: What is the duration of an MCh in Neurosurgery?

Answer: MCh in Neurosurgery
is a super specialty programme of three years.

• Question: What is the eligibility of an MCh in Neurosurgery?

Answer: The candidate must have a postgraduate medical Degree in MS/DNB (General Surgery) obtained from any college/university recognized by the Medical Council of India (Now NMC)/NBE, this feeder qualification mentioned here is as of 2022. For any further changes to the prerequisite requirement please refer to the NBE website.

• Question: What is the scope of an MCh
  in Neurosurgery?

Answer: MCh in Neurosurgery
offers candidates various employment opportunities and career prospects

• Question: What is the average salary
  for an MCh in Neurosurgery candidate?

Answer: The MCh in Neurosurgery
candidate’s average salary is between Rs. 32 lakhs to Rs. 95 lakhs per annum
depending on the experience.

• Question: Can you teach after completing an MCh Course?

Answer: Yes, the
candidate can teach in a medical college/hospital after completing an MCh
course.

Eating healthy when money is tight can be challenging, as today, food is more expensive than ever before. The cost of food has increased for several reasons, including inflation, labour shortages, the war in Ukraine and pandemic-related supply...

MCh Urology or Master of
Chirurgiae in Urology also known as MCh in Urology is a super specialty level
course for doctors in India that they do after completion of their
postgraduate medical degree course. The duration of this super specialty
course is 3 years, and it focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases
of the urinary-tract system and the reproductive organs. Organs under the
domain of urology include the kidneys, adrenal glands, ureters, urinary
bladder, urethra, and the male reproductive organs.

The course is a
full-time course pursued at various recognized medical colleges across the
country. Some of the top medical colleges offering this course include All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr RML Hospital, New Delhi, and more.

Admission to this course
is done through the NEET-SS Entrance exam conducted by the National Board of
Examinations, followed by counselling based on the scores of the exam that is
conducted by DGHS/MCC/State Authorities.

The fee for pursuing MCh
(Urology) varies from college to college and may range from Rs.7 thousand to
Rs. 28 lakhs.

After completion of
their respective course, doctors can either join the job market or can pursue
certificate courses and Fellowship programmes recognized by NMC and NBE.
Candidates can take reputed jobs as Senior residents, Consultants,
etc. with an approximate salary range of Rs 4.5 lakhs to Rs. 30 lakhs per
annum.

What is MCh in Urology?

Master of Chirurgiae in Urology,
also known as MCh (Urology) or MCh in (Urology) is a three-year super
specialty programme that candidates can pursue after completing a postgraduate
degree.

MCh Urology provides
training to evaluate, understand, and manage medical and
surgical aspects of genitourinary disorders. The curriculum includes basic and
clinical research in renovascular hypertension, adult and pediatric urinary
tract infection, treatment of urinary incontinence, neuro-urology, urinary tract
physiology, anatomy and cellular biology of the prostate gland, and
genitourinary oncology.

The postgraduate
students must gain ample knowledge and experience in the diagnosis, and
treatment of patients with acute, serious, and life-threatening diseases.

PG education intends to
create specialists who can contribute to high-quality health care and advances
in science through research and training.

The required training
done by a postgraduate specialist in the field of Urology would help the
specialist to recognize the health needs of the community. The student should
be competent to handle medical problems effectively and should be aware of the
recent advances in their speciality.

The candidate is also
expected to know the principles of research methodology and modes of the
consulting library. The candidate should regularly attend conferences,
workshops and CMEs to upgrade her/ his knowledge.

Course
Highlights

Here are some of the
course highlights of MCh in Urology

Name of Course

MCh in Urology

Level

Doctorate

Duration of Course

Three years

Course Mode

Full Time

Minimum Academic Requirement

Candidates must have a postgraduate medical
Degree in MS/DNB (General Surgery) obtained from any college/university
recognized by the Medical Council of India (Now NMC)/NBE, this feeder
qualification mentioned here is as of 2022. For any further changes to the
prerequisite requirement please refer to the NBE website.

Admission Process / Entrance Process /
Entrance Modalities

Entrance Exam (NEET-SS)

INI CET for various AIIMS, PGIMER Chandigarh,
JIPMER Puducherry, NIMHANS Bengaluru

Counselling by DGHS/MCC/State Authorities

Course Fees

Rs.7 thousand to Rs. 28 lakhs per year

Average Salary

Rs 4.5 lakhs to Rs.30 lakhs per annum

Eligibility
Criteria

The eligibility criteria
for MCh in Urology are defined as the set of rules or minimum prerequisites
that aspirants must meet to be eligible for admission, which include:

Name of Super Specialty course

Course Type

Prior Eligibility Requirement

Urology

MCh

MS/DNB (General Surgery)

Note:

· The feeder
qualification for MCh Urology is defined by the NBE and is subject to changes
by the NBE.

· The feeder
qualification mentioned here is as of 2022.

· For any changes,
please refer to the NBE website.

• The prior entry qualifications
  shall be strictly by Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000,
  and its amendments notified by the NMC and any clarification issued from
  NMC in this regard.
• The candidate must have
  obtained permanent registration with any State Medical Council to be
  eligible for admission.
• The medical college's
  recognition cut-off dates for the Postgraduate Degree courses shall be as
  prescribed by the Medical Council of India (now NMC).

Admission
Process

The admission process
contains a few steps to be followed in order by the candidates for admission to
MCh in Urology. Candidates can view the complete admission process for MCh in Urology
mentioned below:

• The NEET-SS or National
  Eligibility Entrance Test for Super speciality courses is a national-level
  master’s level examination conducted by the NBE for admission to
  DM/MCh/DrNB Courses.
• Qualifying Criteria-Candidates
  placed at the 50th percentile or above shall be declared as qualified in
  the NEET-SS in their respective speciality.
• The following Medical
  institutions are not covered under centralized admissions for DM/MCh
  courses through NEET-SS:

1. AIIMS, New Delhi and
other AIIMS

2. PGIMER, Chandigarh

3. JIPMER, Puducherry

4. NIMHANS, Bengaluru

• Candidates from all eligible
  feeder speciality subjects shall be required to appear in the question
  paper of the respective group if they are willing to opt for a
  super-speciality course in any of the super-speciality courses covered in
  that group.
• A candidate can opt for
  appearing in the question papers of as many groups for which his/her
  Postgraduate speciality qualification is an eligible feeder qualification.
• By appearing in the question
  paper of a group and on qualifying for the examination, a candidate shall
  be eligible to exercise his/her choices in the counselling only for those
  super-speciality subjects covered in the said group for which his/ her
  broad speciality is an eligible feeder qualification.

Fees Structure

The fee structure for
MCh in Urology varies from college to college. The fee is generally less for
Government Institutes and more for private institutes. The average fee
structure for MCh in Urology is from Rs.7 thousand to Rs. 28 lakhs per year.

Colleges
offering MCh in Urology

Various medical colleges
across India offer courses for pursuing MCh in (Urology).

As per National Medical
Commission (NMC) website, the following medical colleges are offering MCh in (Urology)
courses for the academic year 2022-23.

Sl.No.

Course Name

State

Name and Address of
Medical College / Medical Institution

Management of College

Annual Intake (Seats)

1

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam

Govt.

3

2

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Andhra Pradesh

Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences
(SVIMS), Tirupati

Govt.

4

3

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Andhra Pradesh

Dr P.S.I. Medical College, Chinoutpalli

Trust

2

4

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Andhra Pradesh

Guntur Medical College, Guntur

Govt.

2

5

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Andhra Pradesh

Narayana Medical College, Nellore

Trust

4

6

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Assam

Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati

Govt.

4

7

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Bihar

Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical
Sciences, Sheikhpura, Patna

Govt.

4

8

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Chandigarh

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education &
Research, Chandigarh

Govt.

10

9

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Chattisgarh

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur

Govt.

2

10

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Delhi

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New
Delhi

Govt.

11

11

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Delhi

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical
Sciences and Dr RML Hospital, New Delhi

Govt.

4

12

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Delhi

Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung
Hospital, Delhi

Govt.

5

13

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Gujarat

B J Medical College, Ahmedabad

Govt.

4

14

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Haryana

Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute Of Medical
Sciences & Research, Mullana, Ambala

Trust

2

15

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Jammu & Kashmir

Sher-I-Kashmir Instt. Of Medical Sciences,
Srinagar

Govt.

4

16

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Karnataka

Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute,
Bangalore

Govt.

2

17

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Karnataka

S S Institute of Medical Sciences& Research
Centre, Davangere

Trust

2

18

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Karnataka

Vijaynagar Institute of Medical Sciences, Bellary

Govt.

4

19

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Karnataka

Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum

Trust

5

20

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Karnataka

Kasturba Medical College, Manipal

Trust

6

21

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Karnataka

Rajarajeswari Medical College & Hospital,
Bangalore

Trust

4

22

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Karnataka

Yenepoya Medical College, Mangalore

Trust

3

23

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Karnataka

Father Mullers Medical College, Mangalore

Trust

2

24

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Karnataka

K S Hegde Medical Academy, Mangalore

Trust

3

25

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Karnataka

A J Institute of Medical Sciences & Research
Centre, Mangalore

Trust

4

26

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Karnataka

Vydehi Institute Of Medical Sciences &
Research Centre, Bangalore

Trust

1

27

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Karnataka

St. Johns Medical College, Bangalore

Trust

1

28

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Karnataka

Shri B M Patil Medical College, Hospital &
Research Centre, Vijayapura(Bijapur

Trust

3

29

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Karnataka

Institute of Nephro-Urology, Bangalore

Govt.

6

30

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Karnataka

M S Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore

Trust

6

31

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Kerala

Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram

Govt.

6

32

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Kerala

Government Medical College, Kottayam

Govt.

3

33

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Kerala

Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Calicut

Govt.

4

34

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Kerala

T D Medical College, Alleppey (Allappuzha)

Govt.

2

35

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Kerala

Amrita School of Medicine, Elamkara, Kochi

Trust

3

36

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Madhya Pradesh

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal

Govt.

2

37

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Maharashtra

Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences,
Mumbai

Govt.

2

38

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Maharashtra

Mahatma Gandhi Missions Medical College,
Aurangabad

Trust

1

39

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Maharashtra

Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College, Sion,
Mumbai

Govt.

4

40

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Maharashtra

Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbai

Govt.

3

41

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Maharashtra

Seth GS Medical College, and KEM Hospital, Mumbai

Govt.

4

42

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Maharashtra

Mahatma Gandhi Missions Medical College, Navi
Mumbai

Trust

3

43

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Maharashtra

Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical College,
Pune

Trust

3

44

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Maharashtra

Dr D Y Patil Medical College, Hospital and
Research Centre, Pimpri, Pune

Trust

4

45

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Manipur

Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal

Govt.

2

46

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Orissa

SCB Medical College, Cuttack

Govt.

5

47

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Pondicherry

Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical
Education & Research, Puducherry

Govt.

3

48

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Pondicherry

Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research
Institute, Pondicherry

Trust

2

49

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Punjab

Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana

Trust

2

50

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Rajasthan

Sardar Patel Medical College, Bikaner

Govt.

4

51

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Rajasthan

SMS Medical College, Jaipur

Govt.

10

52

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Rajasthan

Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital,
Sitapur, Jaipur

Trust

6

53

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Rajasthan

National Institute of Medical Science &
Research, Jaipur

Trust

3

54

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Rajasthan

Dr SN Medical College, Jodhpur

Govt.

4

55

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Tamil Nadu

SRM Medical College Hospital & Research
Centre, Chengalpattu

Trust

3

56

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Tamil Nadu

Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research
Institute, Chennai

Trust

6

57

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Tamil Nadu

Madras Medical College, Chennai

Govt.

8

58

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Tamil Nadu

Kilpauk Medical College, Chennai

Govt.

6

59

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Tamil Nadu

Christian Medical College, Vellore

Trust

5

60

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Tamil Nadu

Stanley Medical College, Chennai

Govt.

5

61

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Tamil Nadu

Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute,
Kanchipuram

Trust

3

62

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Tamil Nadu

Meenakshi Medical College and Research Institute,
Enathur

Trust

2

63

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Telangana

Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad

Govt.

4

64

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Telangana

Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad

Govt.

2

65

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Telangana

Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad

Govt.

4

66

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Telangana

Mamata Medical College, Khammam

Trust

2

67

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Telangana

Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narketpally

Trust

1

68

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Telangana

Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute Of Medical
Sciences, Karimnagar

Trust

1

69

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Telangana

Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad

Trust

1

70

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Uttarakhand

All India Institute of Medical Sciences,
Rishikesh

Govt.

22

71

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Uttar Pradesh

Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varansi

Govt.

4

72

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Uttar Pradesh

Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical
Sciences, Lucknow

Govt.

4

73

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

Uttar Pradesh

King George Medical University, Lucknow

Govt.

6

74

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

West Bengal

Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education &
Research, Kolkata

Govt.

10

75

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

West Bengal

Nilratan Sircar Medical College, Kolkata

Govt.

2

76

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

West Bengal

RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata

Govt.

3

77

M.Ch - Urology/Genito-Urinary Surgery

West Bengal

Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata

Govt.

2

Syllabus

MCh in Urology is a
three years specialization course that provides training in the stream of Urology.

As
of 27/02/2022 the Competency-Based Curriculum for MCh in Urology course is not
available on the National Medical Commission's official Website. However, the
course content of AIIMS represented here can be used for reference and an idea of
what a typical Syllabus of an MCh in Urology course will contain:

SYLLABUS

It will cover a wide
spectrum of diseases of the urogenital system & retroperitoneum. Apart from
the clinical aspect of these subjects, the candidate has to acquire in-depth
knowledge of the related basic subjects like applied; anatomy; embryology,
physiology; biochemistry, pharmacology; pathology, microbiology epidemiology,
immunology etc.

1. Anatomy and
Embryology of GU tracts, adrenal & retroperitoneum.

2. Applied physiology
and biochemistry about Urology, Nephrology, renal transplantation and renovascular
hypertension.

3. Investigative urology
& Genito-urinary radiology and imaging including nuclear medicine.

4. Male Infertility,
Andrology and Urological endocrinology

5. Sexual dysfunction-
investigations and management.

6. Perioperative care,
management of urological complications and care of critically ill patients.

7. Urodynamics and
Neurology.

8. Genito-urinary
trauma.

9. Urolithiasis-Medical,
Biochemical & Surgical aspects.

10. Uro-oncology-Adult
& Paediatric

11. Reconstructive
Urology.

12. Paediatric
Urology-congenital malformations and acquired diseases.

13. Urinary tract
infections and sexually transmitted diseases.

14. Obstructive
Uropathy.

15. Renal transplantation
(including transplant immunology medical & surgical aspects).

16. Renovascular
Hypertension.

17. Gynaecological
urology.

18. Newer developments
in urology.

19. Operative
Urology-open & endoscopic

20. Endourology

21. Behavioural and
social aspects of urology.

22. Neonatal problems in
Urology.

23. Electrocoagulation,
lasers, fibre optics, instruments,

catheters, endoscopes
etc.

24. Retroperitoneal
Diseases & Management.

25. Medical aspects of kidney diseases.

26. Laparoscopic
Urologic Surgery.

Apart from the above-mentioned subjects, each candidate should have basic knowledge of the
following:

1. Biostatistics &
Epidemiology.

2. Computer Sciences.

3. Experimental &
Research methodology and Evidence-Based Medicine.

4. Scientific
presentation.

5. Cardio-pulmonary
resuscitation.

6. Ethics in medicine.

Career Options

After completing an MCh
in Urology, candidates will get employment opportunities in Government as well
as in the Private sector.

In the Government
sector, candidates have various options to choose from which include Registrar,
Senior Resident, Demonstrator, Tutor, etc.

While in the Private
sector, the options include Resident Doctor, Consultant (Urology), Visiting Consultant (Urology),
Junior Consultant (Urology), Senior Consultant (Urology), Assistant Professor (Urology), Associate Professor
(Urology).

Courses After
MCh in Urology Course

MCh in Urology is a
specialization course that can be pursued after finishing a Postgraduate
medical course. After pursuing a specialization in MCh in Urology, a candidate
could also pursue certificate courses and Fellowship programmes recognized by
NMC and NBE, where MCh in Urology is a feeder qualification.

These include
fellowships in:

·
FNB
Paediatric Urology

·
FNB
Minimal Access Urology

Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs) –MCh in Urology Course

• Question: What is the complete full form of an MCh?

Answer: The full form of
an MCh is a Master of Chirurgiae.

• Question: What is an MCh in Urology?

Answer: MCh Urology or
Master of Chirurgiae in Urology also known as MCh in Urology is a super
specialty level course for doctors in India that they do after
completion of their postgraduate medical degree course.

• Question: What is the duration of an MCh in Urology?

Answer: MCh in Urology
is a super specialty programme of three years.

• Question: What is the eligibility of an MCh in Urology?

Answer: Candidates must
have a postgraduate medical Degree in MS/DNB (General Surgery) obtained from any college/university recognized by the
Medical Council of India (now NMC)/NBE.

• Question: What is the scope of an MCh
  in Urology?

Answer: MCh in Urology
offers candidates various employment opportunities and career prospects

• Question: What is the average salary
  for an MCh in Urology candidate?

Answer: The MCh in Urology
candidate’s average salary is between Rs. 4.5 lakhs to Rs. 30 lakhs per annum
depending on the experience.

• Question: Can you teach after completing an MCh Course?

Answer: Yes, the
candidate can teach in a medical college/hospital after completing an MCh
course.

The post The History of vegan activist; the veganism movement started a long time ago first appeared on Toronto Caribbean Newspaper.

The Sinopharm and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines will be available at the island’s polyclinics from Monday, February 27, to Friday, March 3, at the times listed below.

Monday, February 27

• Branford Taitt Polyclinic, Black Rock, St. Michael – 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Eunice Gibson Polyclinic, Warrens, St. Michael – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Frederick “Freddie” Miller Polyclinic, The Glebe, St. George – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 28

• Branford Taitt Polyclinic, Black Rock, St. Michael – 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Frederick “Freddie” Miller Polyclinic, The Glebe, St. George – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Eunice Gibson Polyclinic, Warrens, St. Michael – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Randal Phillips Polyclinic, Oistins, Christ Church – 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 1

• Branford Taitt Polyclinic, Black Rock, St. Michael – 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Maurice Byer Polyclinic, Station Hill, St. Peter – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Winston Scott Polyclinic, Jemmotts Lane, St. Michael – 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• St. Philip Polyclinic, Six Roads, St. Philip – 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Edgar Cochrane Polyclinic, Wildey, St. Michael – 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Eunice Gibson Polyclinic, Warrens, St. Michael – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Frederick “Freddie” Miller Polyclinic, The Glebe, St. George – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 2

• Branford Taitt Polyclinic, Black Rock, St. Michael – 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Frederick “Freddie” Miller Polyclinic, The Glebe, St. George – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Randal Phillips Polyclinic, Oistins, Christ Church – 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Friday, March 3

• David Thompson Health and Social Services Complex, Glebe Land, St. John – 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Branford Taitt Polyclinic, Black Rock, St. Michael – 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Frederick “Freddie” Miller Polyclinic, The Glebe, St. George – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The AstraZeneca, adult Pfizer vaccine, and the paediatric Pfizer vaccine for children ages five to eleven, are currently not available.

Persons who wish to receive their first dose of any available vaccine are advised to walk with their identification card. Those eligible for second doses should also travel with their blue vaccination card.

At present, the choice for boosters is either Johnson & Johnson or Sinopharm. Persons receiving boosters may present either their blue vaccination card or vaccination certificate and valid photo identification. Those who were fully vaccinated overseas must also provide their vaccination cards and valid photo identification (passport or identification card). (MR/BGIS)

The post Vaccination schedule for February 27 to March 3, 2023 appeared first on Barbados Today.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in December 2022, found that Wegovy helped teens reduce their body mass index by about 16 per cent on average, better than the results in adults.

The long-standing practice of "watchful waiting", or delaying treatment to see whether children and teens outgrow or overcome obesity on their own only worsens the problem that affects more than 14.4 million young people in the US. Left untreated, obesity can lead to lifelong health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes and depression.

"Waiting doesn't work," said Dr Ihuoma Eneli, co-author of the first guidance on childhood obesity in 15 years from the AAP.

"What we see is a continuation of weight gain and the likelihood that they'll have [obesity] in adulthood."

For the first time, the group's guidance sets ages at which kids and teens should be offered medical treatments such as drugs and surgery — in addition to intensive diet, exercise and other behaviour and lifestyle interventions, said Eneli, director of the Centre for Healthy Weight and Nutrition at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

In general, doctors should offer adolescents 12 and older who have obesity access to appropriate drugs and teens 13 and older with severe obesity referrals for weight-loss surgery, though situations may vary.

The guidelines aim to reset the inaccurate view of obesity as "a personal problem, maybe a failure of the person's diligence", said Dr Sandra Hassink, medical director for the AAP Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight, and a co-author of the guidelines.

"This is not different than you have asthma and now we have an inhaler for you," Hassink said.

Young people who have a body mass index that meets or exceeds the 95th percentile for kids of the same age and gender are considered obese. Kids who reach or exceed that level by 120 per cent are considered to have severe obesity. BMI is a measure of body size based on a calculation of height and weight.

Obesity affects nearly 20 per cent of kids and teens in the US and about 42 per cent of adults, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The group's guidance takes into consideration that obesity is a biological problem and that the condition is a complex, chronic disease, said Aaron Kelly, co-director of the Centre for Paediatric Obesity Medicine at the University of Minnesota.

"Obesity is not a lifestyle problem. It is not a lifestyle disease," he said. "It predominately emerges from biological factors."

The guidelines come as new drug treatments for obesity in kids have emerged, including approval late last month of Wegovy, a weekly injection, for use in children ages 12 and older. Different doses of the drug, called semaglutide, are also used under different names to treat diabetes. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that Wegovy, made by Novo Nordisk, helped teens reduce their BMI by about 16 per cent on average, better than the results in adults.

Within days of the December 23 authorisation, paediatrician Dr Claudia Fox had prescribed the drug for one of her patients, a 12-year-old girl.

"What it offers patients is the possibility of even having an almost normal body mass index," said Fox, also a weight management specialist at the University of Minnesota. "It's like a whole different level of improvement."

The drug affects how the pathways between the brain and the gut regulate energy, said Dr Justin Ryder, an obesity researcher at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago.

"It works on how your brain and stomach communicate with one another and helps you feel more full than you would be," he said.

Still, specific doses of semaglutide and other anti-obesity drugs have been hard to get because of recent shortages caused by manufacturing problems and high demand, spurred in part by celebrities on TikTok and other social media platforms boasting about enhanced weight loss.

In addition, many insurers won't pay for the medication, which costs about $1,300 a month. "I sent the prescription yesterday," Fox said.

"I'm not holding my breath that insurance will cover it."

One expert in paediatric obesity cautioned that while kids with obesity must be treated early and intensively, he worries that some doctors may turn too quickly to drugs or surgery.

"It's not that I'm against the medications," said Dr Robert Lustig, a long-time specialist in paediatric endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco.

"I'm against the willy-nilly use of those medications without addressing the cause of the problem."

Lustig said children must be evaluated individually to understand all of the factors that contribute to obesity. He has long blamed too much sugar for the rise in obesity. He urges a sharp focus on diet, particularly ultra processed foods that are high in sugar and low in fibre.

Dr Stephanie Byrne, a paediatrician at Cedars Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, said she'd like more research about the drug's efficacy in a more diverse group of children and about potential long-term effects before she begins prescribing it regularly.

"I would want to see it be used on a little more consistent basis," she said.

"And I would have to have that patient come in pretty frequently to be monitored."

At the same time, she welcomed the group's new emphasis on prompt, intensive treatment for obesity in kids.

"I definitely think this is a realisation that diet and exercise is not going to do it for a number of teens who are struggling with this — maybe the majority," she said.

The Caribbean is the second highest region globally, outside sub–Saharan Africa, where HIV is prevalent. A little under half of people in the region do not show acceptable attitudes to people living with HIV. This is happening within the context of significant progress the region is making in reducing new HIV infections by 28 per cent between 2010 and 2021. AIDS-related deaths reduced by over half in the same period.

Can you imagine how this region would have performed without an environment with punitive laws, stigma and discrimination and gender-based violence?

It is important to identify and address the inequalities that exist in the region by promoting inclusion and respect for diversity. Building a just society involves understanding socio-cultural and gender norms and how they are changing and shaping how we interact to advance our civic, political, and economic rights. These norms, policies and practices affect how people access the services they need to safeguard their health, livelihood, and well-being and, importantly, enjoy their rights.

The Caribbean region cannot end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 without dealing with these societal barriers preventing the region from fulfilling the promise made by its leaders in the 2021 Political Declaration. This is how we build equal and just societies.

The focus of this year's Zero Discrimination Day, which is observed annually on March 1, is on decriminalization and how it saves the lives of vulnerable and marginalized populations and people living with HIV (PLHIV).

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) believes criminal laws targeting key populations and people living with HIV violate their human rights, make them vulnerable, increase their risk to HIV transmission and exacerbate the stigma people face. This put people in danger by creating barriers to the support and services they need to protect their health. These are the key elements of structural inequalities which are unfortunately driving the HIV epidemic globally and therefore preventing people from realising improvement in their health and well-being. The Caribbean is no exception. However, political leaders in the region can lead and show the world how being inclusive is a strength and not a weakness or threat to building an equal and just society committed to ending AIDS as a public health threat.

UNAIDS data show that 134 countries, including six in the Caribbean, still explicitly criminalise or otherwise prosecute HIV exposure, non-disclosure, or transmission. Twenty countries criminalise and/or prosecute transgender persons. Data show as well that 153 countries, including 14 countries from the Caribbean, criminalise at least one aspect of sex work and 67 countries, including eight in the region, that criminalise consensual same-sex sexual activity. Furthermore, 48 countries, including five countries in the Caribbean, still place restrictions on entry into their territory for people living with HIV while 53 countries report that they require mandatory HIV testing, for example, for marriage certificates or for performing certain professions. Finally, 106 countries require parental consent for adolescents to access HIV testing. All Caribbean countries apart from Guyana require parental consent for HIV testing. These legal and policy barriers are making it difficult for the world to close the chapter on the AIDS epidemic.

World leaders made a promise to address these difficult issues by agreeing for the first time to achieving the "10-10-10 targets". They made a commitment that by 2025 less than 10 per cent of countries would have punitive legal and policy environments that affect the HIV response; less than 10 per cent of countries reporting stigma and discrimination against key populations and persons living with HIV and finally less than 10 per cent of countries report gender-based violence against women and girls.

As we celebrate Zero Discrimination Day under the theme 'Save lives: Decriminalise', we are reminded of these commitments. Punitive and discriminatory laws across the region are harmful, they help to strip people living with HIV and key populations of their rights and are inimical to accelerating the end of AIDS as a public health threat in the region. UNAIDS therefore calls on all Caribbean governments to recommit to the principles of rights and take steps to fulfil their obligations to protect and promote human rights for all.

The Caribbean region can end the AIDS epidemic by improving the human rights environment through legal and policy reforms to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of vulnerable key populations and persons living with HIV to enhance access to critical health services they need. This is the pathway to building an equal and just society and to leave no one behind.

Dr Richard Amenyah is medical doctor and public health specialist from Ghana. He is the UNAIDS Multi-Country Director for the Caribbean. Send feedback to jamaica@unaids.org or follow him on Twitter @RichardAmenyah and @UNAIDSCaribbean.

Santo Domingo, DR.
The National Health Service (SNS) clarified yesterday that the Padre Billini Teaching Hospital, handed over in the middle of last year by President Luis Abinader, is functioning at full capacity, with its areas and services available to citizens who come to the health center in search of health care.

As announced in a press release last week, the Intensive Care Unit, Operating Theatres, and Admission areas, which completed 100 percent of the iconic hospital’s services, were enabled the previous week.

It is recalled that the modern dental area of Padre Billini was put into service in January. It has two dental units, two periapical X-rays, a sterilizer, and a panoramic X-ray.

The portfolio of services of the health center, available to the public, includes Emergency, Outpatient, Laboratory, Imaging, Haemodialysis Unit, Blood Bank, Pharmacy, Tuberculosis Unit, Nutrition, Pathology, Endoscopy, High-Cost Programme (Rheumatology and Haematology) and Liver Programme. From its inauguration in August 2022 to January 2023, the Padre Billini Hospital has offered 101,174 services, such as emergencies, imaging, and laboratories.

Villa Hermosa

The SNS reported that the Villa Hermosa Hospital in La Romana has the necessary staff and equipment to offer services.

As announced during the inauguration, work is based on a schedule for opening services that begins on 13 March with outpatient consultations (six clinics), laboratory, imaging (ultrasound and X-rays), and dentistry.

On 3 April, the emergency room will come into service; on 17 April, the in-patient ward and the intensive care unit, while on 1 May, the operating theatres will be ready for use, leaving the commissioning process at 100%, just two months after its handover.

During the handover, which took place on the 24th of this month, the SNS announced that the health center has now entered the qualification stage by the Ministry of Public Hea. In this protocol phase, each process is supervised to qualify it and affiliate it to the various Health Risk Administrators (ARS) and thus guarantee the hospital’s and its structure’s sustainability.

The SNS is working on training staff in the proper handling of the advanced equipment available at the facility, and this induction began once the equipment was installed.

The National Health Service reported that as soon as other health centers intervened under the Ministry of Housing and Building (MIVED) management delivered, the commissioning process will begin, which is continuously published during inaugurations.