Mangalore University to offer M.Sc in Medical Physics

Mangaluru: S.A. Bhardwaj, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulation Board on Friday expressed his concern over the quality of medical physicists graduating from different institutions across the country, said that not many graduates are qualifying in the examination for selection of Radiological Safety Officers.

Bharadwaj was here to inaugurate the M.Sc (Medical Physics) course of Mangalore University. “The failure rate (in the examination conducted by AERB) is very high,” he said in his speech.

Addressing media he said that the AERB found that among the 22 institutions providing the course, some are not doing well. “But there are institutes doing well. I expect Mangalore University to do well,” he said.

He spoke on how M.Sc (Medical Physics) was an initial course for a medical physicist, who would further go into healthcare specialties and research organizations to ensure that organizations comply with radiation safety norms and guidelines prescribed by the AERB.

“Medical physicists are an extension of the AERB. There are over 1,600 medical physicists working in the county,” he said.

The newly inaugurated course of Mangalore University is on par with the requirements of the AERB.

Course graduates will undergo a one-year internship in hospitals. “The M.Sc course is the beginning and you have to continue learning,” he told course aspirants.

Vice-Chancellor K. Byrappa revealed that Mangalore University is the first in Karnataka to offer M.Sc (Medical Physics) course, which is on par with MD (Radiology).The course aims to teach students to handle different equipment used in imaging and radio therapy. “There are strict parameters followed by AERB to approve the course. It took us more than two years to finish the formalities,” he said.

The VC informed that Department of Atomic Energy will aid the university in running the course.

Mangalore University has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Mangalore Institute of Oncology and A.J. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Institute, where practical classes of the course will be held.