The Hindu Business Line : STPI bullish on medical transcription

"While the opportunity for growth is phenomenal, there is a real dearth in the availability of trained manpower, particularly in the medical transcription segment," the Director of STPI (Chennai), Ms R. Rajalakshmi, said.

Industry estimates have put the annual requirement at 35,000 to 40,000 medical transcriptionists. The US medical transcription industry has been estimated at $17 to $20 billion, annually.

Countries such as India, the Phillippines and Pakistan have been competing for the pie.

"Instead of grabbing the opportunity, people are apprehensive about future prospects, but the career path is ones imagination," Ms Rajalakshmi told Business Line.

According to her, the need of the hour was in ensuring quality training programmes to capture the available market.

Until recently, the units had to impart training to prospective candidates, but not many were keen to join such programme because they were not sure about the career path and the pay packet, which was not as lucrative as the call centre offers.

"The situation has not changed much. Yet, in view of the growth potential, STPI decided to step in and give a twist to the issue by joining hands with the transcription industry association on the one hand and the institution on the other. Our role is merely to oversee the quality of the training programme. We will continue to add value to these programmes," she said and hinted about a proposed incentive for the faculty too.

She hailed the coming together of smaller players in the medical transcription space and of sharing information.

"The medical transcriptionist consortium is a healthy sign, particularly when several US companies have set up subsidiaries in India to do transcription business.

"While the MNCs are welcome to establish shop here, the domestic players should also be given an opportunity. But they cannot work in isolation."

In Coimbatore, about 12 companies have become members of the Coimbatore Transcription Industry Association (CTIA).

The CTIA, STPI and two city-based colleges - SNR Sons College and Ramakrishna College of Arts and Science for Women - signed an agreement on Tuesday to give the basic training in medical transcription in the campus itself for six months during the final semester.

As per the MoU signed by the institutes, on completion of the training, selected candidates would undergo an on the job training for a further period of six months in one of the member companies before being placed.

While stating that STPI would ensure training quality, Ms Rajalakshmi said that some more colleges in this region had indicated their keenness to offer such programme and effect suitable changes in the course curriculum to include specialisation in medical transcription.