In a landmark moment for Bangladesh’s medical education, the MRCP PACES (Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills) exam was held in the country for the first time, hosted at Evercare Hospital Dhaka. This milestone marks a significant development, eliminating the need for local doctors to travel abroad for this critical assessment.
The exam, which ran from October 22 to 24 at Evercare Hospital Dhaka, attracted 45 aspiring medical professionals from across the nation. According to a press release, this event is expected to set a new precedent for medical education in Bangladesh, as Evercare Hospital becomes the first institution in the country to host the MRCP PACES exam, which is internationally recognized.
Previously, while Bangladeshi doctors could sit for the written components of the MRCP exam locally (Parts 1 and 2), they had to travel to countries such as India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, or the UK to complete the practical portion. The associated travel costs and logistical challenges prevented many qualified doctors from participating.
Federation of the Royal College of Physicians, UK, played a crucial role in organizing the internationally recognized exam for Bangladeshi medical professionals.
Representatives from the Royal College of Physicians, UK including Dr. Stuart Hood, Chair, PACES Dhaka along with four others, were present to examine the students.
Fifteen Bangladeshi senior physicians took part in the exam as examiners.
From Bangladesh, the exam was conducted by Prof. Quazi Tarikul Islam, Federation Lead, Bangladesh, Royal Colleges of Physicians of UK. Also offering their full support from Evercare Hospitals Bangladesh were Dr. Ratnadeep Chaskar, CEO of Evercare Hospitals, Bangladesh; Dr. Arif Mahmud, Group Medical Director at Evercare Hospitals, Bangladesh; and Mohammad Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, Deputy Director of Operations and Hospitality at Evercare Hospital Dhaka.
MRCP PACES exam will be held at Evercare Hospital Dhaka twice a year.