Bridge gap between medicene, biological sciences: Expert

Bangalore, Dec 6 (UNI) Renowned Molecular scientist and Director Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc) Professor Balaram today called for bridging the gulf between practice of medicine and biological sciences seen as two different cultures in the country.

Delivering the inaugural address at the 55th Annual Conference of Indian Association of Pathologists and Microbiologists (IAPM) here he felt that unlike in the west, the biochemistry and clinical practicing was not being seen under one umbrella. This scenario led to clinicians not understand what biologists were doing and vice versa, hindering much needed harmonisation between the two, he said.

Expressing concern over disappearance of basic sciences as an important curriculum in the medical institutions which was the foundation of micro biology and modern micro chemistry, he said.

He also advocated for bringing various branches of micro biology including molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry and micro-biology under one roof and fusion it with the practice of modern medicine.

Prof Kusum Joshi, expressed concern over the unchecked mushrooming of pathological laboratories in the country which raised the credence of quality and service. "The laboratories were not just conducting tests and delivering reports. Pathology is the knowledge which is the basic of modern medicine and there is a need to regulate them," she said.

She said IAPM should involve in the process of giving accreditation to laboratories which was essential to control and monitor the functioning of labs.

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