Doctorate of Medicine in Preventive and Social Medicine is a two year doctorate degree program, designed for aspirants to study about the precautions and measures that can be taken in order to prevent diseases more than finding a cure for it and promote health in the society.
The basic eligibility for the pursuance of the course is to have an M.B.B.S. degree or any other equivalent degree from a university, recognized by Medical Council of India (MCI). Admission to eligible candidates is provided based on the accomplishment in the qualifying exam (M.B.B.S.) and a relevant entrance exam such as:
In India, average tuition fee charged for the course ranges between INR 1 and 6 Lakhs, varying across institutes.
Top Institutes offering M.D. in Preventive and Social Medicine
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
- Christian Medical College (CMS)
- Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC)
- Madras Medical College (MMC)
- Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER)
After successful completion of the course, one can find a job in various Government and Private Hospitals, and in areas like Research Institutes, Medical Colleges, Community Healthcare Centers, Railways and Military Services, Govt. Social Welfare Programs, Medical Labs, etc. where they can earn a monthly salary ranging between INR 40K and 90K, at an initial level, depending upon his/her expertise in the field.
Top Colleges for Doctorate of Medicine [MD] (Preventive and Social Medicine)
M.D. in Preventive and Social Medicine: Course Highlights
Some of the major highlights about the course are tabulated below.
| Course Level | Doctorate Degree |
| Duration | Two Years |
| Minimum Qualification Required | A graduation degree in M.B.B.S. or equivalent. |
| Examination Type | Semester System |
| Admission Procedure | Counseling after taking Entrance Exam |
| Total Course Fee | INR 1 Lakhs to 6 Lakhs |
| Top Recruiting Areas/Fields | Research Institutes, Medical Colleges, Government Hospitals, Military Health care Services, Medical Labs, Private Hospitals, Healthcare Institutions, Private Clinic, etc. |
| Job Positions | Epidemiologist, Health Specialist, National Consultant, Technical Assistant, Specialist Physician, Research Associate, Junior Research Scientist, Lecturer, Professor, Associate Lecturer, etc. |
| Average Initial Annual Salary | INR 3 Lakhs to 12 Lakhs |
| Major Entrance Examinations | NEET PG, AIIMS PG, PGIMER Entrance Exam, CMC Vellore PG, JIPMER PG, UPSEE, etc. |
M.D. in Preventive and Social Medicine: What is it about?
Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM) is a newly introduced division of medical science, which focuses on the measures taken to prevent various communicable and non-communicable diseases, more than finding a cure for them, and promoting health in the society.
Postgraduates interested in pursuing further higher studies and going for research and development (R&D) in the field can also opt for higher degree courses (D.M. and Ph. D).
The program is designed to equip candidates with an in-depth knowledge about various epidemiological principles and measures taken to promote health, outbreaks, investigation & prevention of diseases. The course offers education in medical services ranging from curative to rehabilitative health services, involving statistics, psychology, sociology, law, engineering and economics as well as clinical sciences and biological sciences.
One of the major objectives of the course is to provide patient-centered comprehensive primary health care including follow-up and referral. The course provides highly efficient doctors who can successfully operate in and contribute largely to the society by promoting healthy lifestyles. The course’s curriculum integrates theoretical and practical components of the study.
M.D. in Preventive and Social Medicine: Top Institutes
In India, more than 100 medical colleges and institutes offer a Doctorate degree in Preventive and Social Medicine, but not all of them are considered to be good for the pursuance of the course. Listed below are the names of some of the best colleges, offering the course in the country along with their corresponding location and annual fee charged by each.
Eligibility for M.D. in Preventive & Social Medicine
Mentioned below are the minimum qualifications than any candidate aspiring to pursue the course is required to fulfill, in order to be eligible to apply for the course.
A minimum aggregate score of 55% or equivalent CGPA is required at the level of graduation, which should be completed from a university recognized by Medical Council of India (MCI). All SC/ST candidates are given a relaxation of 5% in the minimum aggregate criteria.
Graduation should be completed in M.B.B.S or any other equivalent degree in a relevant discipline.
Candidates waiting for their final year examination’s result are welcomed too, but admission to such candidates will be given on provisional basis.
Also, candidates should have completed a 1- year compulsory rotating internship after passing the final professional examination which is MBBS.
M.D. in Preventive & Social Medicine: Admission Process
Most of the medical colleges and institutes offering the course admit candidates on the basis of their performance in a relevant entrance test, conducted either at National level (NEET PG) or at institutional level. Students who have secured the qualifying percentile for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) or any other equivalent exam are eligible for the counseling process.
As a part of counseling, candidates have to go through two additional rounds of group discussion and personal interview, wherein candidate’s general aptitude and knowledge for the course is examined by highly qualifies and experienced faculties. A merit list is then issued by each university allocating available seats to the most deserving candidates.
Students in their final year of graduation (M.B.B.S.) waiting for exam results, are eligible to apply, but admission to such candidates will be given on a provisional basis, until they satisfy all the above mentioned eligibility criteria.
Listed below are some of the major entrance examinations conducted in the country for admission to the respective course.
M.D. in Preventive & Social Medicine: Syllabus and Course Description
A semester-wise breakup of the course’s curriculum is tabulated below.
| FIRST SEMESTER | SECOND SEMESTER |
|---|---|
| Social Science | Health Education |
| Genetics | Occupational Health |
| General Medicine applied to the field of Public Health | Public Health Chemistry |
| Maternal and Child Health Rehabilitation | Communicable and Non- Communicable Diseases |
| Public Health Administration | Vital Statistics |
| Seminar 1 | Seminar 2 |
| THIRD SEMESTER | FOURTH SEMESTER |
| Industrial Toxicology and Occupational Physiology | Biostatistics |
| Entomology | Nutrition |
| Parasitological Study | Epidemiological Techniques |
| Public Health Laboratory Practices | Research Methodology |
| Environmental Health | Demographic Techniques |
M.D. in Preventive & Social Medicine: Career Prospects
Preventive & Social Medicine specialists are in great demand all over the world, due to the rising population and increasing diseases. So such postgraduates can put a step forward and do a lot for the society and suffering people.
After successfully completing the course, one can work in various Government and Private Hospitals, Military Healthcare Services, Medical Labs, Research Institutes, Medical Colleges, Community Healthcare Centers, etc. where they can expect a monthly pay of INR 50K to 70k in government sectors, and INR 50K to 1 Lakhs in private sectors, which like most other careers is expected to increase with experience and expertise in the field.
Other than seeking for a job one can also opt for a teaching career and become a lecturer or professor in leading universities and medical colleges, and they can be self-employed by starting their own medical clinic or hospital.
Interested postgraduates may later pursue higher degree courses like DM (Doctorate of Medicine), Ph. D. (Doctorate of Philosophy) and other research related studies, for more knowledge in the field, better career options & salary packages.
Some of the popular professional avenues open to such postgraduates are mentioned below with basic job responsibilities and salary associated to each.
| JOB PROFILES | JOB DESCRIPTION | SALARY (Tentative) |
|---|---|---|
| Epidemiologist | An Epidemiologist investigates diseases and applies their knowledge of how and why communicable diseases spread to make recommendations on containment and treatment. | INR 4 Lakhs to 15 Lakhs |
| National Consultant | A National Consultant coordinates and promotes quality related activities and advocacy and estimates requirements for improvement of quality of health care services. | INR 4 Lakhs to 10 Lakhs |
| Technical Assistant | A Technical Assistant observes and records patients' conditions, assists with clinical duties and personal care including infection prevention and control, personal hygiene, comfort and safety. | INR 3 Lakhs to 9 Lakhs |
| Professor | A professor teaches and motivates students and keeps up with current research activities in their areas of expertise. | INR 4 Lakhs to 8 Lakhs |
| Health Specialist | A Health Specialist works to improve the health of individuals and communities and works with organizations, such as neighborhoods, schools and hospitals, to make them aware of their roles in promoting health. | INR 3 Lakhs to 6.5 Lakhs |
| Junior Research Scientist | A Junior Research Scientist prepares articles, reports, and presentations, performs routine clerical duties as directed and assists in administrative duties such as completing reports. | INR 3 Lakhs to 7 Lakhs |
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