Hematology is the branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases related to blood. It involves treating diseases that affect the production of blood and its components, such as blood cells, hemoglobin, blood proteins, bone marrow, platelets, blood vessels, spleen, and the mechanism of coagulation.
Significant diseases related to blood are Malaria, Thalassemia, Leukemia, Clotting disorders, Anemia, Chagas Disease, African Sleeping Sickness. The principle tests carried out by a Hematologist are Blood film, Coagulation tests, Bone marrow aspirate, Complete Blood Count, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Hemoglobin A1c, Sickle Cell Screen and Manual white blood cell differential.
The laboratory work required in the study of blood is frequently performed by a Medical Technologist/ Assistant. Many Hematologists work as Hematologist-Oncologists, who provide medical treatment for all types of cancer.
Hematologists provide expert primary and consultative care for patients with a diverse spectrum of malignant blood-related disorders.
A formal post-graduate course in hematology approved by the Medical Council of India was started in 1999 for the first time in India. This remains a highly sought after course because of its status and repute in the country.
MD in Hematology: Course Highlights
Tabulated below are some of the major highlights of the course.
| Course Level | Post Graduate |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Examination Type | Yearly System |
| Eligibility | MBBS with a minimum aggregate score of 50% |
| Admission Process | Based on counselling after clearing Entrance Tests (NEET) |
| Course Fee | INR 50,000 - 1,00,000 |
| Average Starting salary | INR 2 to 10 Lakh p.a. |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Hospitals, Research Centers, Scientific Studies |
| Job Opportunities | Hematologist, Chief Medical Officer, General Surgeon |
MD in Hematology: What is it About?
MD in Hematology is a 3- year long postgraduate course in medicine pursued after an MBBS degree. It is a practice- oriented and research- based course.
The course has been designed to train eligible students with comprehensive training in clinical and laboratory hematology to produce skilled medical personnel with:
- strong clinical skills in treating both malignant and nonmalignant hematological disorders.
- the ability to analyze and interpret laboratory data for proper diagnoses.
- the ability to further train students and junior doctors.
- to guide research work to enhance the science of hematology.
Top Institutes Offering MD in Hematology
Listed below are some of the best institutes in India that offer MD in Hematology:
| Rank | College | City/State | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | All India Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS | New Delhi | INR 1,670 |
| 2 | Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research | Puducherry Tamil Nadu | INR 8,100 |
| 3 | Maulana Azad Medical College | New Delhi | INR 16,100 |
| 4 | Armed Forces Medical College AFMC | Pune Maharashtra | INR 6,500 |
| 5 | Vardhman Mahavir Medical College VMMC | New Delhi | INR 27,500 |
| 6 | Lady Harding Medical College LHMC | New Delhi | INR 13,000 |
| 7 | Madras Medical College | Chennai, Kerala | INR 13,340 |
| 8 | BJ medical college BJMC | Ahmedabad Gujarat INR | INR 3,000 |
| 9 | Osmania Medical College | Hyderabad | INR 66,670 |
| 10 | Government Medical College | Kozhikode Kerala | INR 13,340 |
Most of these colleges are permitted to admit only 2 students per year, except Medical College, Kolkata, which is permitted to admit 3 students per year by the Medical Council of India.
Eligibility for MD in Hematology:
Typically, to pursue a super specialty MD degree, candidates need to satisfy the eligibility criteria mentioned below:
- Candidates should have obtained an MBBS Degree from an institution recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI).
- Candidate should have completed a 1- year compulsory rotating internship after passing the final professional examination which is MBBS before 30th April of the academic year.
Candidates in possession of an MBBS degree or Provisional MBBS Pass Certificate recognized by the Indian Medical Council Act 1956, besides a permanent or provisional registration certificate of MBBS qualification issued by the Medical Council of India or State Medical Council and having completed 1 year of internship or/ are likely to complete the internship on or before 31st March or 31st April of the relevant year, may apply for NEET-PG through the online application system.
MD in Hematology: Admission Process
Admission to MD in Hematology is based on a national level entrance examination- National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) PG- which is a single window entrance examination to MD/MS/PG diploma courses in medicine in India. Candidates who have secured the qualifying percentile for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) are eligible.
NATIONAL ELIGIBILITY CUM ENTRANCE TEST (NEET) PG – NEET PG is an eligibility-cum-ranking examination, conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), for admission to MS/MD and PG Diploma courses in India in Medical/ Dental Colleges running with the approval of the Medical Council of India/ Dental Council of India. The exam fee for NEET-PG is INR 3, 750 for general candidates and INR 2, 750 for SC/ST/PWD/PH candidates. The examination is a computer based test 300 multiple choice questions exam delivered on computer based platform (CBT). The syllabus for the exam comprises of subjects/knowledge areas as per the Graduate Medical Education Regulations issued by Medical Council of India. The NEET PG is conducted in the month of December and the result is declared in January. Online registration begins in September and is open until October.
Academic Options after MD in Hematology
After obtaining the first postgraduate degree, i.e.MD/MS/DNB, one can go for further specialization in medical or surgical fields.
MD in Hematology: Syllabus and Course Structure
A year- wise breakup of the course’s syllabus is given here:
|
1st Year |
|---|
| Basics of Hematology |
| introduction to clinical hematology |
| basic morphology and concepts of hematopoiesis |
| Bone marrow structure and examination |
| RBC structure and functions |
| development of immune system |
| bleeding disorder mechanism |
| overview of normal hemostatic mechanism |
| laboratory approach to diagnosis of leukemia |
|
2nd Year |
| Iron metabolism and iron deficiency anemia |
| Megaloblastic anemia |
| red cell membrane defects and enzymopathies |
| Thalassemia |
| Sickle Cell anemia |
| abnormal hemoglobin |
| Lab diagnosis of platelet function |
| immune hemolytic anemia |
|
3rd Year |
| cell cycle and Carcinogenesis |
| principles of chemotherapy |
| reactive lymphocytosis |
| acute leukemia |
| acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and adults |
| t-cell lymphoproliferative disorders |
| bone marrow transplantation |
| disorders of spleen |
MD in Hematology: Career Prospects
Listed here are some of the popular job positions offered to successful postgraduates of the discipline with the corresponding job descriptions and salaries offered.
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| Job Name | Job Description | Average Annual Salary in INR |
|---|---|---|
| General Surgeon | They perform non- technical and basic surgeries | 3,00,000 to 4,50,000 |
| Chief Medical Officer | They direct the staff and programs of the organization and medical and nursing programs | 4,72,293 - 8,80,292 |
| General Practitioner | They provide diagnoses of common diseases and ailments | 3,00,000 – 5,45,000 |
| Hematologist | They treat blood disorders and malignancies, including types of hemophilia, leukemia, lymphoma and sickle-cell anemia, among other blood related issues. | 4,00,000 – 10,00,000 |
| Oncologist | They treat cancer using chemotherapy or other medications, such as targeted therapy in cases where blood cancer is concerned. | 2,00,000 – 3,00,000 |
Successful postgraduates of MD in Clinical Hematology have a lot of employment opportunities at their disposal. They may choose to work as part-time lecturers or guest lecturers in any of the country’s medical colleges.
They are qualified to publish articles and columns regarding the latest developments and advancements in the field of Clinical Hematology. They are lucratively hired in a number of fields such as:
- Research institutions
- Polyclinics
- Biotechnology & Pharma companies
- Nursing homes
- Non-profit organizations
- Medical trusts/ foundations
- Laboratories
- Medical colleges
- Health centers
- Biomedical companies