ATCOM-Challenges in Implementation and Possible Way Forward

For years, teaching professionalism and ethics to undergraduates have been part of 'hidden curriculum'. Declining empathy and poor 'doctor-patient communication and relationship ’is leading to lack of trust and increase in violent incidents against doctors. Hence, Medical Council of India perceived a strong need to teach 'attitude, communication and ethics ’directly and explicitly and came up with an 'attitude and communication module ’to be taught and assessed during Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery course. Introduced in 2015, it has not been implemented till date. Author has tried to identify the perceived challenges in it's implementation and possible solutions to address them.