Odisha govt forms committee for translation of MBBS books into Odia

The team of 22 doctors headed by Odisha University of Health Sciences V-C Dr Manas Sahoo will identify the essential course books for MBBS education required to be translated into Odia

Updated on: Jul 5, 2024, 09:52:17 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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The Odisha state government on Thursday formed a committee comprising of 22 doctors who will work on translating MBBS books into Odia language.

The health and family welfare department in an order said that the team of 22 doctors headed by vice-chancellor of Odisha University of Health Sciences Dr Manas Sahoo will identify the essential course books for MBBS education required to be translated into Odia and workout a timeline for the same.

The committee has been given 15 days to submit its proposal.

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The work on translation will begin once the committee submits its report.

Speaking on the need for translating medical courses in vernacular languages, a state BJP leader, on the condition of anonymity, said the translation will level the playing field and empower people.

“For patients travelling to hospitals for health problems, the prescription and medications in English language is many a time not comfortable. Doctors who have studied MBBS in Odia language would be able to cater to the healthcare related needs of different segments of the society,” he said.

In October 2022, the Madhya Pradesh government had released three translated medical textbooks in Hindi for MBBS students in the state.

In February 2022, the National Medical Commission (NMC), India’s regulatory body for undergraduate medical education had asked medical colleges to consider imparting lessons in vernacular languages.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More