NMC nod to cardiology diploma after 20-year wait; 1,700 doctors’ degrees recognised | India News
New Delhi: In a move to resolve a long-standing regulatory deadlock, the National Medical Commission has recognized the Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Cardiology (PGDCC), effectively validating the degrees of nearly 1,700 doctors who completed the course between 2006 and 2013. program, managed by Indira Gandhi National Open UniversityEffectively closed down after 2013 after non-recognition by erstwhile Medical Council of India.The decision, announced by the Indian Association of Clinical Cardiologists at a press conference in the capital on Tuesday, is also seen as a step to address the shortage of cardiology specialists in underdeveloped regions.Cardiovascular disease accounts for about 28% of deaths in India, even as access to specialists remains skewed towards cities, the move.About 65-70% of the population lives outside major cities, but more than 80% of cardiologists are concentrated in urban centers, leaving large areas dependent on general practitioners and delayed referrals.India has less than 5,000-6,000 cardiologists for over 1.4 billion people – about one in every 2-3 lakh – far below the global norm.Gaps in primary care, including delayed diagnosis and management of hypertension, diabetes and heart disease, are pushing patients to tertiary hospitals late, increasing mortality and medical costs while adding pressure to urban centres.The burden is also shifting to younger ages, with heart disease increasingly occurring before the age of 50 and increasing in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.Against this background, PGDCC is now redefined as Clinical Cardio Physician (Non-Invasive)—positioned as a mid-level solution to bridge the urban-rural gap. The two-year post-MBBS program focuses on non-invasive and preventive care, which enables early detection and management.“India is facing a widespread and under-reported shortage of cardiology specialists,” said Dr Rakesh Gupta of the Indian Academy of Echocardiography.More than 1,700 trained doctors are expected to be integrated into the public health system after accreditation, improving access to underserved areas.
