The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) is awaiting the nod of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to include Yoga, Ayurveda sciences, and traditional medicine in the MBBS curriculum.

The recommendation has come from the Standing Academic Committee (SAC) of the Institute. Apart from Yoga and Ayurvedic science, the Committee has suggested for including new branches such as aviation medicine and organ transplant in the syllabus.

“We have designed a state-of-the-art curriculum for the MBBS course, but the final nod is awaited from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Standing Academic Committee has cleared it. Yoga Science will be an integral part of the curriculum and we will also have research postings. Our MBBS committee has worked round the clock to make the curriculum cutting-edge,” Director Prof Vivek Lal told The Tribune.

Earlier, the National Medical Commission (NMC) introduced Yoga training in the MBBS foundation course.

“Yoga practices shall be a maximum of one hour every day during the period of 10 days beginning from June 12 every year to culminate on the International Yoga Day, i.e., June 21^st, to be celebrated in all medical schools across the country. All batches of MBBS may practice these. The yoga module will be made available to all colleges by the Under Graduate Medical Education Board, NMC. However, colleges may adopt their own modules. Yoga unit may be included under PMR department or any other department of all colleges at their discretion,” the Commission said in its circular.

Later, the UGMEB of NMC issued another circular to notify the Common Yoga Protocol being developed by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga under the Ministry of AYUSH to maintain uniformity of the course.

The PGI Chandigarh has recommended adding Yoga, Ayurveda, and traditional medical sciences in the MBBS syllabus, complying with the NMC’s plans for including Yoga training in the MBBS curriculum, Prof Vivek said.