Sarojini Naidu Medical College

Region: Uttar Pradesh Country: India

S.N. Medical College, Agra, named after the first lady Governess of Uttar Pradesh, poetess and freedom fighter,Bharat Kokila Smt. Sarojini Naidu, is situated in the heart of Agra, the famous old city of the Taj Mahal. It is one of the first three Medical Schools of the country.

For Agra Medical School, the year 1939 was a year of achievement. With a view to meet the growing demand for qualified doctors in the then United Provinces, the status of Agra Medical School was upgraded to that of a full fledged Medical College affiliated to the Agra University for the award of M.B.B.S. degree. Today, this college has completed over 60 years of its useful existence dedicated to the cause of Medical Education and Research and in the service of suffering humanity the college motto being LIVE TO SERVE.

This college, soon after its inception, was recognized by the Medical Council of India and the General Medical Council of Great Britain. The first of M.B.B.S. doctors passed out in the year 1944. The hospital attached to the Agra Medical School since 1854 was known as the Thompson Hospital. With the elevation of Agra Medical School to S. N. Medical College, the Thompson Hospital was also rechristened as S.N. Hospital.

History
Sarojini Naidu Medical College & Hospital, a specialized Tertiary Level Health Care Institution is situated in Agra. Agra, an historical city is famous for its monuments of archeological importance, the major among which are Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. The antiquity of Agra goes back to the prehistoric days and is said to have been associated with relics of Krishna, Kansa and Mahabharata. The name Agra was coined after name of great saint Aangirus, but it was developed mainly during the reign of Emperor Akbar during the Mughal reign.

S. N. Medical College itself is honored with the prestige of being one of the first three Medical Schools of the country, being established in year 1854, during the reign of British Empire. The history of this institute in face runs parallel with the evolution and development of Medical Education in the State of Uttar Pradesh. Lt. Governor Sir James Thomson was the founder of this school, who laid the foundation stone in year 1854.

It was then named after him as Thomson School, and the main objective of its establishment was to produce Medical Assistants and training the Doctors for working in Indian Army, and to look after the health of Military personnel. The East India Company first made the plans of the school and the maintenance cost was also borne by it. The hospital attached to the Agra Medical School since 1854 was known as the Thompson Hospital.
The first batch of Indian doctors passed out from the Medical School in 1857, when India was vigorously engaged in its struggle of freedom.

The first Principal of this School was Surgeon John Murray' (1854-58), and at that time rest of the staff of school consisted of two European Assistant Surgeons and two Indian Sub-assistant Surgeons. From 1872 onwards, civilian students were also started being admitted to the L.M.P. Course, which was later changed into L.S.M.F. by the U.P. State Medical Faculty.

In 1883, a separate section for the training of the female students was established at the Lady Lyall Duuerin Hospital and the first batch consisting of four female students was admitted. This was abolished in 1942 and amalgamated with the Medical College.

The newly added wards were named after the Principals of those times. Hilson ward was added to the Thomson Hospital in the year 1886. It was named after the name of Lt. Col. A. J. Hilson, who remained as Principal of the Medical School from 1876 to 1887. Massive expansion of the school took place in 1892 when a new Operation Theatre, Outpatients Department and Willcocks ward were added to the hospital buildings.There used to be a single storied centrally situated building with carved curved arches and minarets.

This building initially acted as the examination hall and a hall for holding the annual school functions. Subsequently it was utilized as the Medical School Library. This building even today houses the Central Library of the Medical College, of course, after having undergone some changes. Today this Central Library building stands sand-witched between the newer multistoried building complexes of the Medical College.

During the years 1904 to 1906 further expansion of the school buildings was done. The old Lecture Theatre I (does not exist today), Lukas ward, old Pathology Department Building and old Dissection Hall were added. Total number of students at that time in Agra Medical School was 300, with 80 lady students in the lady Lyoll Hospital. The minimum qualification for admission was School Leaving Certificate.

Year 1939 was an important time for Agra Medical School, when it was upgraded to full fledged Medical College for meeting the growing demands for qualified Doctors in the then United Provinces. The College then started awarding degree of M.B.B.S. of Agra University (now Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Univeristy) at the initiative of Smt. Vijay Laxmi Pandit, the then State Minister of Health. Lt. Col. J.C. Bharucha, IMS, was the Principal at the time of change over, and first batch of M.B.B.S. doctors passed out in the year 1944.

In 1947, the Medical College was renamed as Sarojini Naidu Medical College after the name of first Lady Governess of Uttar Pradesh, poetess and freedom fighter, Bharat Kokila Smt. Dr. Sarojini Naidu. The name of the Thomson Hospital was also changed to Sarojini Naidu Hospital after attainment of independence. This college, soon after its inception, was recognized by the Medical Council of India in 1948 and the General Medical Council of Great Britain. The first batch of postgraduate M.D./M.S. students passed out in 1948.

Infrastructure
S.N. Medical College & Hospital, Agra is situated in the center of city, in a well outlined campus, adjacent to main Mahatma Gandhi Road. From three sides, campus is surrounded by residential and market areas. College and Hospital have separate blocks and buildings for different departments. Schematic map of the college campus is given on the next page.

S. N. Medical College & Hospital, Agra provides tertiary level specialized health care services not only to people of urban and rural areas from Agra but also to the patients approaching from surrounding states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and adjacent districts of Mathura, Firozabad, Etawah, Jhansi and Bharatpur.

Available land area:
S. N. Medical College & Hospital is situated in a total area of 24.49 acres with Emergency Department at the main road and other departments within the campus. The college campus is surrounded on one side by District Women Hospital (known as Lady Lyoll Hospital) with an area of 15 acres and adjacent to the main entrance of the college there is Tuberculosis Demonstration and Training Center.

Research
S.N. Medical College,located on the main campus, conducts and promotes research on natural therapies and natural medicines and works to advance the knowledge of issues surrounding research in natural medicine. The Institute provides a full range of research and informational services to support experimental, developmental and outcomes research.

S.N.Medical College Research Institute Serves the public by conducting and promoting research on natural therapies and to advance the knowledge of complementary / alternative medicine. SNMCRI provides scientific evidence to the empirical findings experienced, documented, and practiced by individuals world wide: that there are fundamental and scientific reasons to the effectiveness of natural therapeutics. The opportunity now exists for naturopathic physicians, researchers and academicians to demonstrate scientifically the medicinal value of complementary / alternative medicine.

Our biomedical research programs include human subjects research, basic sciences research, public health projects, epidemiological studies, and quality assurance of natural products.

Achievement
During year 2004-2005, S. N. Medical College & Hospital is celebrating its 150th Foundation year (1854-2004) and on this prestigious occasion, all faculty members, employees and students have strived hard for the improvement in available facilities for patients and students and for improving the overall image of the institution in minds of the people.

Due to ever-increasing number of private nursing homes and clinics and due to the dominance of Private qualified and non-qualified practitioners, there was a decrease in patient input during past few years. Along with this due to the deficiency of hospital staff, and consequent irregularity in the working, the image of this institute had also deteriorated among the community.

But due to the sincere efforts of all who are involved, the situation have now shown a positive improvement and patients have again started showing their trust on the facilities of this institute. The newer initiatives undertaken and achievements during this year (2004-2005) can be briefly outlined as follow..

Admission Process
The Uttar Pradesh Combined Pre Medical Test (UPCPMT) is conducted for admission of MBBS/BDS/BHMS/BAMS/BUMS students in the medical colleges of Uttar Pradesh.

The governing authority for the UPCPMT is Director General of Medical Education and Training Uttar Pradesh. However this Directorate does not conduct the CPMT examination on its own; it gives the responsibility to any one of the Medical College/Unitersity that comes under its preview for conducting of CPMT.

Candidates who qualify in the CPMT written examination are required to appear in counseling session in the month of July. The directorate holds the entire responsibly of conducting the counseling (online) and allotment of seats.

Medical Courses
For MBBS degree, each year total of 123 students are enrolled in the Medical College, in fixed atio from Uttar Pradesh and All India Entrance Examinations. The graduate course is spread over four and half cademic years divided into three phrases.

Duration is one year (I & II Semesters). During this period students are taught subjects ofAnatomy,Physiology and Biochemistry. Students are also introduced to Community medicine. Examination is held in Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry.

On clearing all the three subjects the students enter the Para-clinical phase Duration is one and half years (Semester III to V). This period entails the subjects of Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmaclogy, Forensic Medicine & Toxicology and Social & Preventive Medicine / Community Medicine. After clearing all these subjects in the University Examination (II Prof.) students can appear in next University examination i.e. final Prof-Part I.

Duration is two academic year after II professional examin-ation. During this period the subjects like Orthopaedics, Opthalom-ology, E.N.T., Community Medicine, Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Paediatrics are being taught. The concurrent phase is important in the basic understanding of Clinical subjects. The university examination are conducted in two phases i.e. part I & part II , The teaching and training requirement includes all aspects of patient care and Health. Final Prof- part I examination includes first three subjects and next four subjects are considered in Final Prof-part II exams.

On successful completion of graduate course, all students have to undertake one years rotatary internship. The students are awarded the M.B.B.S degree only after satisfactory completion of internship. The internship programme is aimed at providing practical training in patient-care and health care of community. Students are required to maintain internship diary, which is required to be signed by Medical Officer in charge and Head of the Department. Duly signed internship diary is to be submitted before the internship certificate is issued.