Lend a hand, to make a successful career

Updated on: Monday, June 21, 2010

The Diploma in Prosthetics and Orthotics course is offered only by a few private and government-run institutions in the country. But qualified technicians from these institutes are much sought after. “There is a huge demand for trained technicians. We need qualified professionals to develop prosthetics, but do not have enough of them,” says R. Chinnathurai, Director of the Government Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, K.K. Nagar (GIRM), Chennai. Recently the institute had a request from the Indian Red Cross Society for a prosthetic technician. “We do not have a technician to spare. The IRC is waiting for the current batch to qualify,” he adds. Besides the GIRM, a few private institutions such as the Christian Medical College, Vellore, and the Schiefflein Institute of Health - Research and Leprosy Centre in Karigiri near Vellore offer the course. Chennai-based Mukti Foundation, which supplies artificial limbs, splints and callipers, conducts over 150 camps for providing artificial limbs in the country. “We fabricate artificial limbs and train students who come from various colleges,” says its manager Hemalatha Desai. According to plastic and hand reconstructive microsurgeon R. Krishnamoorthy of Government Stanley Hospital, the hospital has recruited a technician to develop prostheses for its patients. “We prepare the splints in the artificial upper limb centre at Stanley. We propose to start a centre at Stanley to meet our demand,” he says.

Recognised by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), the three-year diploma course is offered to students who have taken the science stream with biology in the higher secondary examination. Candidates must have scored above 50 per cent. There is also a lateral entry in the second year for those appearing through the vocational stream.

Students are taught the basics of anatomy, physiology and pathology besides rehabilitation psychology and counselling in the first year. The technical details of making prosthesis are taught at the Central Polytechnic College in Taramani.

In the subsequent semesters, the students are taught subjects such as orthotics, biomechanics and orthopaedics, electronics, prosthetics, and amputation surgery. They are also taught the nuances of administration, management and industrial safety. Students must submit a dissertation based on their clinical studies and undertake a study tour at the end of the course. Qualifying candidates are recruited as prosthetic draftsmen and experienced personnel in the government service receive the ‘gazetted officer' status. Some students set up their own units, says Dr. Chinnathurai. A former student has set up a unit in Chengalpattu and her work has been appreciated by orthopaedists there, he says.

Lend a hand, to make a successful career

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