New Delhi: In an effort to resolve a longstanding regulatory impasse, the National Medical Council recognized the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Cardiology (PGDCC), effectively validating the degrees of some 1,700 doctors who completed the course between 2006 and 2013. The program consists of Indira Gandhi National Open UniversityAfter 2013, the company was effectively shut down as it was not recognized by the erstwhile Medical Council of India.The decision, announced by the Society of Clinical Cardiologists of India at a press conference in the national capital on Tuesday, is also seen as a step towards addressing the shortage of cardiologists in underserved areas.The move comes at a time when cardiovascular disease accounts for nearly 28% of deaths in India, although experts’ services remain skewed towards urban areas.Nearly 65-70% of the population lives outside major cities, but more than 80% of cardiologists are concentrated in urban centres, resulting in dependence on general practitioners and delayed referrals in most areas.India has fewer than 5,000 to 6,000 cardiologists (roughly one for every 2 to 300,000 people) for a population of over 1.4 billion, well below global standards.Gaps in primary care, including delays in diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, diabetes and heart disease, result in patients presenting to tertiary hospitals later, leading to increased mortality and treatment costs, while also adding to pressure on urban centres.The burden of heart disease is also shifting towards younger people. The incidence of heart disease before the age of 50 is getting higher and higher, and is on the rise in second- and third-tier cities.In this context, PGDCC, now renamed Clinical Cardiologist (Non-Invasive), is positioned as a mid-tier solution to bridge the urban-rural gap. The two-year post-baccalaureate program in internal medicine focuses on non-invasive and preventive care to enable early detection and management.“India is facing a growing and under-reported shortage of cardiology specialists,” said Dr. Rakesh Gupta of the Indian College of Echocardiography.It is expected that more than 1,700 trained doctors will be integrated into the public health system once accredited, thereby improving medical services in underserved areas.
