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Clinical endocrinology in India, as elsewhere, took roots in the
1960's after it was possible to precisely measure hormones. Clinical
endocrine services were offered beginning in 1964 at the Institute of
Medical Sciences Varanasi. They soon spread to all parts of the country
(1) and were primarily offered by physicians with special interest in
endocrinology.
Now, physicians with MD who do a two to three-year postdoctoral DM
course from one of seven centers in India, practice endocrinology as a
clinical subspecialty. Besides, many centers spread all over the country
offer clinical endocrine services (1). Basic and laboratory work is
carried out by a substantial group of basic scientists from medical,
biomedical and veterinary fields.
The Endocrine Society of India, established in 1971 has about 500
life members, comprising clinicians and basic scientists Endocrinology in
India being a relatively young specialty with few qualified practitioners,
family physicians and internists likely take care of most persons with
endocrine diseases. Limitations in clinical exposure and laboratory
facilities are thereby likely to hamper the quality of care offered.
The pioneering work at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences by
Prof. V. Ramalingaswami, Prof. Kochupillai, Prof. MMS Ahuja, Prof. MG
Karmarkar and others documented the widespread prevalence of iodine
deficiency disorders (IDD) in different parts of India. Cost-effective
intervention methods such as iodination of salt saw a substantial
reduction in IDD.
Prof. Kochupillai has now brought into focus the need to identify
other common and easily correctable endocrine disorders due to
environmental factors (2). Once identified, prevention and treatment
would be feasible.
Only qualified endocrinologists need not manage endocrine disorders.
About 10 years ago, we reported that the second largest group of
individuals among those referred for evaluation of thyroid disease was
those without disease, who were mistakenly being given thyroid hormone
(3). Now the proportion of such persons has declined and is hardly a
problem.
There are centers of excellence in India where basic and clinical
endocrinology is practiced.
With information technology being accessible (the Internet and
electronic communications such as eBMJ) greater interaction among centers
dealing with endocrinology (4) as well as those dealing exclusively with
diabetes mellitus (5) would be possible.
References:
(1) Menon PS. Endocrinology in India. Indian J Endocrinol Metab
1997;1:38
(2) Mudur G. Endocrine disorders remain undetected and untreated in India.
BMJ 1999;318:216
(3) Sridhar GR. Pattern of thyroid disorders seen at an endocrine centre
in Andhra Pradesh. In Shah DH, Nornonha OPD (eds). Proceedings of the
fourth annual conference Thyroid Association of India. Radiation Medicine
Centre Bombay 1991; pp15-19
Clinical endocrinology in India
Clinical endocrinology in India, as elsewhere, took roots in the
1960's after it was possible to precisely measure hormones. Clinical
endocrine services were offered beginning in 1964 at the Institute of
Medical Sciences Varanasi. They soon spread to all parts of the country
(1) and were primarily offered by physicians with special interest in
endocrinology.
Now, physicians with MD who do a two to three-year postdoctoral DM
course from one of seven centers in India, practice endocrinology as a
clinical subspecialty. Besides, many centers spread all over the country
offer clinical endocrine services (1). Basic and laboratory work is
carried out by a substantial group of basic scientists from medical,
biomedical and veterinary fields.
The Endocrine Society of India, established in 1971 has about 500
life members, comprising clinicians and basic scientists Endocrinology in
India being a relatively young specialty with few qualified practitioners,
family physicians and internists likely take care of most persons with
endocrine diseases. Limitations in clinical exposure and laboratory
facilities are thereby likely to hamper the quality of care offered.
The pioneering work at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences by
Prof. V. Ramalingaswami, Prof. Kochupillai, Prof. MMS Ahuja, Prof. MG
Karmarkar and others documented the widespread prevalence of iodine
deficiency disorders (IDD) in different parts of India. Cost-effective
intervention methods such as iodination of salt saw a substantial
reduction in IDD.
Prof. Kochupillai has now brought into focus the need to identify
other common and easily correctable endocrine disorders due to
environmental factors (2). Once identified, prevention and treatment
would be feasible.
Only qualified endocrinologists need not manage endocrine disorders.
About 10 years ago, we reported that the second largest group of
individuals among those referred for evaluation of thyroid disease was
those without disease, who were mistakenly being given thyroid hormone
(3). Now the proportion of such persons has declined and is hardly a
problem.
There are centers of excellence in India where basic and clinical
endocrinology is practiced.
With information technology being accessible (the Internet and
electronic communications such as eBMJ) greater interaction among centers
dealing with endocrinology (4) as well as those dealing exclusively with
diabetes mellitus (5) would be possible.
References:
(1) Menon PS. Endocrinology in India. Indian J Endocrinol Metab
1997;1:38
(2) Mudur G. Endocrine disorders remain undetected and untreated in India.
BMJ 1999;318:216
(3) Sridhar GR. Pattern of thyroid disorders seen at an endocrine centre
in Andhra Pradesh. In Shah DH, Nornonha OPD (eds). Proceedings of the
fourth annual conference Thyroid Association of India. Radiation Medicine
Centre Bombay 1991; pp15-19
(4) http://edcvizag.webjump.com
(5) http://mvdiabetes.com
Competing interests: No competing interests