MD (Doctor of Medicine) - Course, Admission, Eligibility, Scope

What is MD?

Doctor of Medicine, commonly known as MD, is a postgraduate degree where graduates study medicine in detail. It is a two-year course that trains medical graduates in the study, prevention, diagnosis, and the treatment of adult diseases. Someone who holds an MBBS degree can pursue MD degree to obtain training on a specialization of choice. Some of the specializations include pediatrics, gynecology, obstetrics, ophthalmology and dentistry. Graduates should know that the admission to MD course in many of the colleges is granted through the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test PG, commonly known as NEET PG. On the other hand, colleges that do not come under the ambit of the aforementioned exam have their own admission criteria. As per the Medical Council of India, there are a total of 220 medical colleges in India (both government and private) that offer around 17950 seats for MD course.

Doctor of Medicine Highlights

Advantages of MD

There are several advantages when it comes to pursuing a degree in Doctor of Medicine. Some of them are mentioned below:

1. Better quality education- This applies to a postgraduate or specialisation degree in any field. When an individual goes for a higher degree it helps him or her in acquiring a better quality of education. Not only that one also gets to know about several things in depth.

2. International opportunities- In the field of medical sciences and healthcare there is a shortage of specialised professionals in several countries. Therefore by pursuing a Doctor of Medicine degree one also has an option of working abroad.

3. Broader Scope- Once an individual completes Doctor of Medicine he or she gets a much broader scope or opportunities. By pursuing this degree the candidate will be offered better job opportunities with better pay packages.

Types of MD (Doctor of Medicine)

Doctor of Medicine i.e MD is a postgraduate degree, which can be opted after completing MBBS.

MD (Doctor of Medicine) Eligibility

In order to pursue MD, aspirants must fulfill the eligibility criteria set by the authority. The eligibility criteria include a mix of educational qualifications, registration, internship requirement, etc. It should be noted that aspirants who seek admission through NEET PG must fulfill NEET PG eligibility criteria in order to qualify. On the other hand, those who seek admission through AIIMS, JIPMER or any other institutes where NEET PG scores are not applicable can also check the eligibility below.

MD Eligibility criteria of NEET PG

• Aspirants must hold an MBBS degree or provisional MBBS pass certificate as recommended under the Indian Medical Council Act 1956.

• Candidates must hold a permanent or provisional registration certificate issued by MCI or State Medical Council showing MBBS qualification.

• Graduates also need to have completed one year of internship or must complete it on or before March 31 in the admission year.

MD eligibility Criteria for AIIMS PG

• Medical graduates must have an MBBS degree for enrolling in the MD course. The degree must be recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI)/Dental Council of India (DCI)

• Aspirants must complete their mandatory 12 months rotatory internship

• Medical graduates must secure a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate if belonging to SC/ST - PwBD category, 55% if OBC - PwBD category in all of their MBBS/BDS professional examinations

MD Eligibility Criteria for JIPMER

• Aspirant must have an MBBS Degree or any other equivalent degree from the MCI or State Medical Council (SMC)

• Candidates must have completed/completing their 12 months rotatory internship

• The minimum qualifying marks for General (UR)/Sponsored/Foreign Nationals (FN)/Other Backward Classes (OBC)/ Economic weaker Section (EWS) is 55% and for Scheduled Castes (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST) it's 50%

MD Eligibility Criteria for PGIMER

• Candidates need to have a valid MBBS degree from a University/Institute recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI).

• Aspirants also must have completed a one-year rotatory internship.

MD (Doctor of Medicine) Admissions

The admission in MD to most of the colleges is granted on the basis of NEET PG scores along with counselling sessions. However, other institutes/universities such as AIIMS, JIPMER & PGIMER conduct their own entrance exam along with group discussion/personal interview. Every institute conducts the exam in different patterns. The name of the major entrance exams for MD has been mentioned below.

Top MD (Doctor of Medicine) Exams

Listed below are the major entrance exams on the grounds of which admission to MD is granted through various medical colleges. It is to be noted that the admission procedure of all these entrance examinations are different.

• NEET PG Entrance Exam

• PGIMER Entrance Exam

• JIPMER PG Entrance Exam

• CMC Vellore PG Medical Entrance Exam

• COMEDK PGET PG Entrance Exam

• MU OET PG Entrance Exam

• AIIMS PG Medical Entrance Exam

• AIPGMEE

Listed below are division MD seats that are filled after the declaration of NEET PG result.

• 50% All India quota seats (all states except Jammu & Kashmir)

• State quota seats. (including Jammu & Kashmir)

• DNB Broad specialty courses

• Armed Forces Medical Services Institutions

• All Private Medical Colleges, Institutions & Universities/Deemed Universities

Top MD Courses

Doctor of medicine does not have any further division of course since it is a course itself. However there are several specialisations in this degree which are mentioned below.

MD (Doctor of Medicine) Specializations

All the specialties in MD (Doctor of Medicine) have been listed in the table below.

MD Specializations

MD (Doctor of Medicine) Syllabus

It is to be noted that the syllabus for MD varies from institution to institution, as well as from the specialization. However, candidates can refer to the syllabus of major specialities in MD set by Medical Council of India (MCI) below.

• MD in Aerospace Medicine

The motive of training the students for MD in Aerospace medicine is to produce a postgraduate student who after undergoing the required training can deal with the requirements of the community and should be competent to handle all.The student should also acquire skills in teaching medical/para-medical students in the subject that the student has received his/her training. The student should be aware of his/her limitations. Click here to check the entire syllabus for MD in Aerospace Medicine.

• MD in Anatomy

Students should also acquire skills in teaching anatomy to medical and para-medical students and be able to integrate the teaching of Anatomy with other relevant subjects while being aware of her/his limitations. Students should also acquire skills in teaching anatomy to medical and para-medical students and be able to integrate the teaching of Anatomy with other relevant subjects while being aware of her/his limitations. Click here to check the complete syllabus for MD in Anatomy.

• MD in Anesthesia

Students with training in anesthesiology should be able to recognize the health needs of the community. He or she should be competent to handle effectively medical problems and should be aware of the recent advances pertaining to his/her specialty. She/he should be a highly competent anesthesiologist with a broad range of skills that will enable him/her to practice anesthesiology independently. Students should also acquire basic skills in teaching medical/para-medical students. They are also expected to know the principles of research methodology and modes of the consulting library. They should attend conferences, workshops, and CMEs regularly to upgrade his/her knowledge. Click here to check the complete syllabus for MD in Anesthesia.

• MD in Biochemistry

The student who has obtained an MD degree in Biochemistry should be well-versed in basic concepts and recent advances in the subject and should have acquired skills and expertise in various laboratory techniques applicable to metabolic and molecular aspects of medicine and in research methodology. Training during the course should equip the student with skills to become an effective teacher, able to plan and implement teaching programs for students in medical and allied health science courses, set up/manage a diagnostic laboratory, generate, evaluate and interpret diagnostic laboratory data, interact with clinicians to contribute to more effective patient care and carry out a research project and publish its results. Click here to check the complete syllabus for MD in Biochemistry.

• MD in Community Medicine

Community Medicine is an academic subject, a branch of medicine which deals with the promotion of health and prevention of diseases, involving people’s participation, utilizing professional management skills. The Community Medicine specialist will inculcate a holistic view of health and medical interventions primarily focused on Community Health/Population Health. Thus, he/she should be equipped with the knowledge, skills, competencies in primary, secondary & tertiary care, control and prevention of outbreaks/epidemics, community diagnosis, health needs assessment, epidemiological assessment, research and planning evidence-based health policies and programs. Click here to check the complete syllabus for MD in Community Medicine.

• MD in Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy

Students having undergone the required training should be able to recognize the health needs of the community, should be competent to handle effectively the medical problems and aware of recent advances pertaining to the discipline. Students should acquire basic skills in teaching medical/para-medical students. The student should be able to counsel patients and relatives in infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, STDs, cutaneous tuberculosis, leprosy, and any event of serious illness or death. Click here to check the complete syllabus for MD in Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy.

MD (Doctor of Medicine) Salary in India

The salary in MD depends on the experience of the graduate, the hospital/institution as well as the location. The more you work in the field and gain experience the more you will get paid for it. However, if we talk about the starting salary in MD for freshers, then it is somewhere between INR 25,000 to 30,000. Graduates with an experience of a year two, can earn up to INR 40,000 to 45,000. And of course as the experience grows, the salary can go up to INR 70,000.

Scope of MD (Doctor of Medicine)

After completing an MD degree, graduates can not only call themselves an MBBS/MD, however, they can also opt for some amazing career prospects. It is indeed true that an MD has better career prospects in the long run. Few big career opportunities that an MD graduate can opt for after completing the degree are mentioned below.

Government Jobs- It is not easy but not impossible either. After completing the course, candidates can apply for MD jobs in the government sector. These government jobs will pay a hefty salary and will come along with many additional benefits. Candidates would be pleased to know that a lot of Doctor recruitment exams are conducted by UPSC where MD qualified doctors can try their luck

Clinical set up: MD graduates also have an option to set up their own clinic. Having set up a clinic, candidates can have their own rules made on a convenience basis. The beginning might not be great but if you cope through that then undoubtedly your future is safe and secure

Private job: Because of the ever-increasing demand and shortage of medical practitioners, there are a large number of MD jobs in the private sector which are always in the hiring process for MD specialized doctors.

Non Governmental Organization (NGO) - If you believe in serving the poor and needy then NGOs are the best options for you. Also, you must note that not all jobs in NGOs are unpaid as some will pay u really well. If you think you got the nerve for it then go hit the nail

Further studies- This is never an option for an MD degree holder, it is always a choice. Having said that, it does not at all mean that this is not a good option. It is great if you decide to study further and add more feathers to your cap. However, candidates must keep in mind that their super-specialty option will depend upon the specialization that they opted for while pursuing MD.