Internship, no fun

Internship is an important component of the MBBS programme, where, after four-and-a-half years of theoretical studies, students get an opportunity to work in a hospital for a whole year. The objective behind the internship programme is to make budding doctors realise the nature of work and responsibilities of being a doctor.
According to an intern at the All India Institute for Medical Sciences, Nitin Garg, "Internship is important as one learns to communicate and deal with the patients, belonging to diverse backgrounds and social structures.The practical training we undergo educates us on several aspects of treating patients, which cannot be found in the books."
However, a large number of interns complain that the actual work they get to do in their internship is of an ''orderly''. An intern at the University College of Medical Science (UCMS), Pranjal Kulshresth says, "We are made to collect reports, accompany patients for their tests, and collect samples, which is the work of an orderly."
Echoing these views, Anjul Sharma from the same college, says, "Apart from doing the chores of the sweepers and orderlies, we have to maintain files and make death certificates, which takes a lot of our time but teaches us nothing constructive."
Generally, medical students are attached to orthopaedics, surgery, gynaecology, anaesthesia, ophthalmology, paediatrics, medicine and other departments, for a specific period of time on rotational basis, during the internship period. The work pressure in many departments is tremendous whereas, in some it is on the lighter side. A student of Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), on condition of anonymity, says, "In most of the departments I was just asked to collect reports and samples but in the anaesthesia department I did nothing more than preparing tea for the seniors."
Maintaining that an intern does not learn anything during the internship, he says, "You might learn something under good seniors but most of the time they are not interested in teaching you." An intern at the Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC), Snigdha Beri, remarks, "Our seniors and faculty members forget that we are still students who are out here to learn. They do not really ''teach'' us or even discuss case studies with us. It is more of your individual observation and keenness to learn that enables you to get something out of it."
The principal, LHMC Dr A K Bais, maintains that internship does provide vital hands-on-experience to students. He says, "We understand that merely doing paperwork can be discouraging for the students, therefore, we ensure that they get to do some work including minor surgical work under supervision. We, in fact, maintain a log book record of various exercises that students undertake in different departments."
The indifferent attitude of the seniors and senior resident (SR) doctors demoralises the interns. A MAMC student says on condition of anonymity, "Seniors and SRs are usually rude to the interns. On several occasions they even make interns do their personal chores and it is very crucial for us to keep them in good humour. Otherwise, they can say we lack ''attendance'' and can even mark us for repeat sessions." Admitting that this happens in UCMS as well, Sharma says, "We cannot say no to anything or anyone." Remarks Beri, "If seniors feel you are disrespectful, they have other means of troubling you."
Disagreeing with these views, Dr Bais says, "By and large, seniors are helpful and willing to guide juniors. However, an intern''s inclination to lea rn is important. Developing a good rapport with your seniors is as important as in any other discipline."