Jupiter Hospital becomes the first in Western India to host MRCP UK PACES examination

Jupiter Hospital, Thane, has become the first hospital in Mumbai and Western India to have hosted the prestigious MRCP UK Pathfinder Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills (PACES) exam in collaboration with the Royal College of Physicians, United Kingdom. Thirty doctors from across India and South East Asia undertook the examination held recently. On successfully concluding the examination, Jupiter Hospital has now become a recognised PACES centre, the first in the whole of western India.

The examination was conducted under strict vigilance as per the guidelines laid down by the Federation of the Royal College of Physicians, United Kingdom. There were five stations through which the candidates had to go through where they were assessed for clinical skills, history taking and communication. There were 11 examiners for each cycle (five from the UK and six from India). The hospital boasts of having three renowned doctors – Dr Amit Saraf, Dr Navin Davda and Dr Snehal Tanna – as certified MRCP PACES examiners for Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians, United Kingdom.

Dr Peter Newman, Chair of Examiners, Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians, United Kingdom said, “I am delighted that the Pathfinder went off without a single glitch. We have to thank the management of Jupiter Hospital for having the vision to support and drive through this important development in postgraduate medical education. The Federation of the RCP and potentially a large number of young doctors who will take their PACES examination in the future at Jupiter, have a reason to be very grateful to the hospital. The Federation will soon formally approve Jupiter/Mumbai as the newest PACES centre in India and we anticipate that the first full PACES will be held in October/November this year.”

Dr Amit Saraf, Consultant Physician, Jupiter Hospital, Thane, who spearheaded the MRCP PACES in Jupiter, said, “Given the high standards of this examination, the PACES centres have to fulfil certain fixed academic criteria before being awarded the PACES centre status. Jupiter Hospital has been able to fulfil most of them and we conducted our first Pathfinder PACES exam this month. This does not only benefit the students across Maharashtra and Western India, but also from Southeast Asia, in evaluation of their clinical expertise, and is a great opportunity for young doctors to get this valuable post-graduation degree with the comfort of being in their own country.”