Medicine is a branch of science that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. The complex nature of the human body has led to the development of numerous branches in the medicinal sciences ranging from neuroscience to toxicology and everything else in between. Anyone who wishes to practice medicine has to first and foremost go through medical school, which is a type of institution that teaches medicine and awards professional degrees for physicians and surgeons. A few of the medical degrees one can obtain are
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
- Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Master’s Science (MSc)
Admission to medical schools is a highly competitive process, and various factors besides academic performance might be taken into consideration while deciding potential candidates.
The Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program in India lasts for a period of 4 years and 5 months and is followed by a 1-year mandatory internship in either the field of medicine, surgery or at a hospital. A student wishing to apply for an MBBS program must have secured a minimum of 50% in their 10+2 board exams with the subject choices of Physics, Chemistry, English and Biology. Students wishing to apply to the program must also lie in the age group of 19 years to 25 years. Almost all medical schools take in candidates based on the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination. The examination consists of 180 multiple choice questions divided amongst the subjects of Physics, Chemistry and Biology with Biology holding the maximum weightage. The test is conducted for 3 hours in pen and paper format. The scoring system is as follows
- 4 marks for every correct answer
- -1 mark for every incorrect answer
An MBBS program covers both clinical as well as non-clinical subjects such as Anatomy, Forensic Sciences, Ophthalmology and General Surgery. Medicine is considered to be a difficult subject but can be equally rewarding as well. Doctors do well financially and also have the opportunity to contribute to the community, helping patients who otherwise cannot afford healthcare.
Typical job profiles for medical graduates include
- Junior Doctor
- Doctor
- General Physician
Medical graduates may also choose to take part in government schemes, treating out the underprivileged. Others might work at private hospitals or join the armed forces. There is also the option of entering academia, as a professor.
Some of the top medical colleges in India are
- People’s University, Bhopal
- Christian Medical College, Vellore
- Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi
- Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
- University College of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi, Delhi
- Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research Puducherry
- Institute of Medical Sciences Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
- King George’s Medical University, Lucknow
After the successful completion of an MBBS program, doctors can practice general medicine for a couple of years before choosing to specialize in a discipline by applying for a Doctor of Medicine (MD) program.
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