The profession of a doctor demands a lot of hard work but provides immense
satisfaction at the end of the day.
The power to heal has traditionally placed the medical profession several rungs
above all others. Even today, when there are a million career options available,
it remains one of the most sought after careers amongst the youth. Like the
Civil Services, the medical science is another profession that young people
make several attempts to enter. Although there are over 1,500 medical
colleges in India, they never seem to be enough for the thousands of
hopefuls who appear for exam after exam to get in.
A doctor's job involves a great deal of hard work, but at the same time it brings
with it the satisfaction of having cured patients and of having alleviated their
pain and suffering. Every day there are enormous strides being made in
medical research, which pose great challenges to young men and women
who opt for this profession.
The medical profession, in itself, encompasses a number of other careers,
namely allopathic medicine, traditional systems of medicine, dentistry,
paramedical services, nursing and veterinary science. Here, we will find
out what it takes to become a doctor of allopathic medicine.
The field of medicine is vast and specialisations within it are increasing by the
day. While a ` Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery' (MBBS) degree
prepares a candidate for practice as a general physician,it is not sufficient for
providing specialist treatment to patients.It is here that specialisation in a
particular branch of medicine becomes a necessity.
Most medical graduates therefore, proceed to complete their postgraduate
studies by going in for a three-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of
Surgery (MS) course or a diploma course of one to two years duration in a
specialised discipline to become a specialist doctor/ surgeon.
Many continue studying for super specialisations in a particular field, which
involves another two years of study. It is these long and difficult years of
study that mark out a medical career and those aspiring to join the profession
must be prepared for it.
ENTRY
It is necessary to possess an MBBS degree from a recognised medical college,
and a licence from the State Medical Council (SMC) before practising medicine.
Candidates who have passed the 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry
and Biology are eligible for the MBBS course. However, they have to go through
highly competitive entrance examinations for admission to medical colleges.
The all-India entrance examination conducted by the Central Board of Secondary
education admits students on an all-India basis to 15 per cent of the total seats
in all medical and dental colleges run by the central government, state
governments and local bodies except in Andhra Pradesh and Jammu &
Kashmir. There are separate entrance examinations conducted by medical
colleges affiliated to universities and managed by state governments, which
admit students on the basis of state domicile.
Training
The MBBS course is of five-and-a-half years' duration, which includes 4and
halfyears of classroom study and practicals. The MBBS course content includes
subjects such as Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Surgery,
Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, and others in three
phases of 18 months each. Examinations are held at the end of each phase
and the third phase is mainly devoted to clinical work in the different
departments of the hospital. This is followed by one year of internship, during
which a student is able to decide his field of interest or specialisation, after
which the MBBS degree is awarded with a license to practice as a doctor from
the SMC.
Opportunities
There is no dearth of jobs for medical practitioners. India has among the
lowest ratios of doctors for its vast population. Government hospitals
and dispensaries are spread over all corners of the country and every
village block has access to at least one primary health centre. But often
they suffer from a shortage of trained medical personnel. Doctors can find
employment in private hospitals or nursing homes. General practitioners
and specialists can moreover, set up their own clinics independently or in
partnership with other doctors, provided they have enough capital for setting
up the establishment with the necessary equipment, medicines and staff.
Research institutions, councils and clinical laboratories,industrial
establishments, public sector undertakings, municipalities and
charitable institutions require trained medical specialists.
The defence services take in doctors and other paramedical personnel
into the Army, Navy and Air Force and offer excellent career opportunities.
Preference is however, given to those passing out of the Armed Forces
Medical College, Pune.
Today the medical profession can prove to be lucrative, particularly for those
in private practise. Furthermore, with vast improvements in the availability of
equipments, those who join this profession can be assured of a fulfilling and
challenging career.
Prominent medical colleges, for which entrance is conducted on an all-India basis
* The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
* Christian Medical College, Vellore.
* The Armed Forces Medical College, Pune.
* Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.
* Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, Maharashtra.
* Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh.
* Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduation Medical Education & Research, Pondicherry.
* Benaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Indicative list
Andhra Pradesh
The general guidelines for the admission of candidates into University
Unaided Minority/Unaided Non-Minority Professional Institutions in A.P.
offering engineering (including Technology), Pharmacy and Architecture
courses are laid down below:
1. The admissions shall be made in the order of merit on the basis of the
ranking assigned in EAMCET as per sub rule(3) of rule 5 of Andhra
Pradesh Common Entrance Test for entry into Engineering, Architecture,
Pharmacy, Agriculture, Medical and Dental Courses rules, 2003.
2. The Un-Aided Professional Institutions shall admit candidates as allotted
by the Convenor of Admissions in terms of Rules laid in the relevant G.O.s.
3. The total number of candidates to be admitted in each course shall not
exceed the limits prescribed by the All India Council for Technical
Education /Government from time to time.
4. The admission of the candidates made in Un-Aided Professional Institutions
shall be subject to scrutiny by the Inspecting authority appointed for the purpose.
For complete details of EAMCET click here
Careers
