KLE University (Part 2)

USM has an offshore undergraduate medical program that is much talked about but nobody seems to know what is happening here in USM/Malaysia or there in KLE University/Belgaum.

Click here for USM VC's article re its offshore program.

Here is what I have on KLE University.

HOW MANY KLE STUDENTS?

USM started sending medical students to KLE University last year, in 2010. I don't have the # off hand.

This year, in 2011, USM wanted to send 100 students (as mentioned in VC's article) but I heard from the KLE students this year, that the first batch of 70 students left after Aidilfitri 2011. However, there are remaining 21 students who are still waiting to go to KLE University. Why did this happen? The story goes like this - USM did not manage to obtain approval for the remaining 21 students to go to KLE University. So the 21 KLE students are actually here with us in Medical School (PPSP). They follow our program here. Whether they will get to go in the end is my big puzzle too. All I can say is, I don't know either.

https://www.facebook.com/USM-KLE-International-Medical-Programme-Belgaum-394434213979967/timeline

ANATOMY TEACHING USING CADAVERS vs NO CADAVERS

The VC mentioned in his article that the KLE program uses cadavers.

The truth is we do not use any cadavers in the medical program in USM as we do in KLE. Why, you may ask. It is because there are no cadavers available for use in teaching of Anatomy practicals. The shortage of cadavers has been a chronic problem with our Medical School. We didn't have the problem before till the government order on zoning for supply of cadavers became effective. We no longer can obtain cadavers as we used to do before the government order. Since our Medical School is in the north and on the east coast, we are limited to obtain cadavers only from Kelantan and nearby areas. But because our Medical School is located in a state dominated by the Malay people and Malay people do not prefer autopsy, nor do they give away their dead loved ones for study purposes, we therefore do not have any cadavers. We have 200+ students, and if 10 students share half a corpse, we will roughly need at least 10 corpses for teaching every new batch of students. But the core of the problem is we cannot find nor obtain 10 corpses each year and prepare them for teaching. So the problem becomes chronic and we don't have any cadaver at all for teaching now. Even the large corpse bins have been tossed out and placed in the corridor. We are not allowed to pinch or buy corpses from outside Kelantan-Terengganu for teaching. When I first started teaching in USM Medical School in Penang in 1982, we used to buy corpses from Tanjung Rambutan and other mental hospitals. There was a good supply of corpses and we had enough corpses for teaching and learning. But now we cannot buy corpses from other places except from the specific places meant for us. 

ROYAL COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, PERAK (RCMP)

I visited the Royal College of Medicine in Ipoh, Perak (RCMP). I visited the Anatomy Department which is sited in a double-storey building near Ipoh Hospital mortuary. The hospital mortuary continuously supplies a sufficient number of corpses to the Anatomy Department at RCMP for teaching purposes. The lower floor of the building is where they store and process the corpses obtained from the hospital. There is an open (without walls) teaching area on the lower floor. The upper floor houses a large lab, a lecture hall, lecturers' rooms and anatomical models. Anatomy is well taught at RCMP and the lecturers are highly committed. They are all experienced Burmese lecturers. "Little Burma" it may seem to a visitor but this is the best place to learn Anatomy first hand from the experts themselves. The Anatomy Department is headed by a good friend of mine, a highly committed lecturer, Professor Dr Myo Than. At RCMP, medical students have to draw/sketch some of the anatomical parts they learn and have to submit that as assignment. The drawings are coloured using coloured pencils. The lecturers then carefully check the students' work and make corrections where necessary. Students pick up their assignments from the drop mail pigeonhole slots in Anatomy Department. This I think is the best way to learn Anatomy.

SUMMARY

In summary, of the three medical schools, which teaches Anatomy best? I would say both RCMP and KLE University. The Anatomy teaching at USM Medical School is dry as anatomical models are used but there are no cadavers. Students can however write to RCMP or KLE University to ask if they can do an Anatomy Elective at the two other universities. If a student aspires to become a surgeon, then RCMP or KLE University is a good choice. If a student does not aspire to become a surgeon, then USM is alright since no cadavers are used.

Prof Faridah