Modern (medical) education – A tale of two goddesses?

In Hinduism, the Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, and the Goddess of learning, Saraswati, are well known. It has been mentioned that where Lakshmi is worshipped, Saraswati will not arrive, and vice versa. In some respects, the goddesses are more allies than competitors, and in images, they are seated on both sides of Lord Ganesh, the God of wisdom. The authors of this manuscript have long experience with medical education in India and Nepal. Each medical college requires both knowledge resources and financial resources for its functioning. Conventionally, medical colleges are run by the government or by non-governmental organizations. During the past few decades, several private medical colleges have been opened in India, Nepal, and other countries. Even government institutions are supported by taxpayer money. With increasing population and financial growth, the market for private self-financing institutions is growing. A fear that the quality of education may be compromised has been expressed. Many doctors from developing nations migrate to developed nations after graduation. In these cases, the two Goddesses may be migrating together to a richer region. Most nations have different mechanisms for assuring the quality of professional education, including medicine. Many institutions have invested substantial resources in learning facilities and resources. The cost that should be charged to students is also important. The fees charged should be adequate to meet the institutional requirements for growth and development. Prospective students and their guardians should have access to objective, impartial information when deciding on an institution and a course of study. In many developing nations, educational institutions owned by the government, trusts and private agencies will continue to coexist. The two Goddesses play an important role in modern education, and the wisdom of Lord Ganesh is required to ensure that they get along synergistically.