MD Course

Doctor of Medicine (MD) course can be pursued after completion of the MBBS degree. Candidates have to complete a 1-year mandatory internship during the programme. Overall, the duration of the MD course is for 3 years. During the programme, students will be researching, conducting experiments, developing different medicinal solutions, and learning other treatment processes for certain diseases. It makes aspirants truly masters and medical experts. 

To get admission into the Doctor of Medicine course, aspirants have to clear any one of the entrance exams from NEET PG, INI CET, AIAPGET, etc. MD course is available only via offline/ in-person mode. Candidates have to attend lectures in classrooms as online learning and distance education is not standard practice for this programme. Candidates may refer to MD Subjects to get an idea of the course overview. 

 Aspirants who want to pursue a Doctor of Medicine degree can secure admission to any of the top colleges like Grant Medical College, AIIMS, TATA Memorial Centre, Maulana Azad Medical College, Jamia Hamdard University, etc. The average course fee varies from around INR 1,00,000. Students who graduate from the MD course become eligible to secure high-paying job profiles such as Medical Pathologists, Bacteriologists, General physicians, Chiropodist, Anaesthesiologists, Obstetricians, etc. Renowned organizations such as Medanta Hospital, Fortis Hospital, Apollo Hospital, Kokilaben Hospital, Amway, Nutrilite, Ranbaxy, Sun Pharma, etc offer amazing job opportunities to all graduates.

Doctor of Medicine or MD is a postgraduate level course. The duration of the course is three years. Although the course fees differ in every college and university, on average the course costs Rs. 10-15 Lakhs for the entire duration of the course. One can opt for MD after completion of their MBBS with a minimum of 50% aggregate. The admission is done on the basis of the NEET PG examination. Find below the highlights of the MD (Doctor of Medicine) Course.

MD degree, or Doctor of Medicine degree, is a premium combination of subjects in the medical stream. It opens up many career prospects and options for higher studies. One can choose to specialize in their area of interest with an MD degree. Doctors with MBBS and MD are more in demand in hospitals and other relevant entities. The average salary package for an MD is significantly higher than that of an MBBS graduate. For candidates who wish to go for higher studies and specializations, completion of their MD is mandatory.

There are no separate courses in MD, as MD is in itself a medical course. One can opt for general MD or choose among the plethora of specializations available for Doctor of Medicine in India. Listed below are the Doctor of Medicine specializations offered in India.

• MD in Cardiology
• MD in Clinical Hematology
• MD in Clinical Pharmacology
• MD in Endocrinology
• MD in Gastroenterology
• MD in Neonatology
• MD in Neuro-Radiology
• MD in Pulmonary Medicine
• MD in Rheumatology

There are a lot of MD specializations available in India and candidates can choose them as per their interest and aptitude. Some of the popular ones amongst the vast availability are listed below.

• MD in Cardiology - Cardiology is a specialization in MD dealing exclusively with the disorders of the heart. The aim of the course is to detect and treat congenital heart defects, coronary artery diseases, heart failure, valvular heart diseases and electrophysiology.
• MD in Clinical Hematology - Clinical Hematology is a practice and research based specialization in MD. It deals primarily with ailments pertaining to blood and its components.
• MD in Clinical Pharmacology - MD in Clinical Pharmacology deals with the healing agents as the course aims to equip candidates with knowledge of drugs and their uses. The course includes research-based studies about illnesses and the drugs they react to.
• MD in Endocrinology - Endocrinology, in simple words, deals with the diagnosis and treatment of the diseases of the endocrine system. They study the endocrine glands in depth and specialize in detecting and treating diseases of these glands, hormones, and long term management of endocrine diseases. 
• MD in Gastroenterology - For the diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to the digestive tract, MD in Gastroenterology course equips the candidates with in-depth knowledge of the digestive tract.
• MD in Neonatology - MD in Neonatology course offers advanced training to doctors working in Neo-Intensive care units. The course aims to produce medical specialists who are able to diagnose, treat, and take care of the newborn with appropriate care and safety.
• MD in Neuro-Radiology - Neuroradiology is a specialization MD course designed to train doctors in advanced imaging techniques to diagnose and treat diseases related to the nervous system
• MD in Pulmonary Medicine - MD in Pulmonary Medicine course deals with the study of prevention, cause, and treatment of problems in lungs and the respiratory tract. During the program, the candidates learn about diagnostics and treatments for respiratory diseases.

Although NEET PG is the most popular exam for admission to general MD in India, there are a few other entrance exams held for admission into specific institutes. The scores from NEET PG are the basis of admission for all medical institutes except a few like AIIMS, JIPMER and a few other medical colleges for which the candidates will have to sit for the college-specific entrance exams. Listed below are the MD entrance exams in India.

• NEET PG Entrance Exam

• PGIMER Entrance Exam

• INI CET Entrance Exam

• CMC Vellore PG Medical Entrance Exam

• MU OET PG Entrance Exam

• AIIMS PG Medical Entrance Exam

• AIPGMEE

To pursue a Course in Doctor of Medicine, all aspirants will have to meet the eligibility criteria for the course as provided by the concerned authorities. The eligibility criteria for MD and its specializations in India are as follows:
 

• Candidates must have a valid MBBS degree from one of the recognised medical colleges or institutes in India or abroad.

• Admission to all medical courses in India is done on the basis of scores obtained in medical entrance examinations, i.e. NEET. Since MD is a PG degree, candidates must have a NEET-PG score/ rank, in order to take admissions in one of the MD specializations in India.

• The minimum aggregate score requirement in the qualifying examination will vary from college to college. Therefore, all candidates are advised to visit the eligibility criteria outlined by the college of their choice.

• Candidates must complete one year of residency to be eligible for MD.

The candidates who are interested in pursuing an MD degree from one of the medical colleges in India will be required to first meet the eligibility criteria for MD. The admissions to the course are based on the scores or ranks obtained by aspirants in the NEET-PG examinations that are conducted for almost all PG medical courses in India. The NEET-PG admissions for MD will be based on the counseling process which will be conducted by the respective bodies throughout India. 

All candidates are first required to sit for the NEET-PG examination in the year in which they wish to join the course. Once the NEET-PG results are released, the MD admission process will begin with the release of the merit list.

As per the NEET-PG selection process, the applicants will be offered admission to MD courses through the NEET-PG counseling process. Students will be asked to select the course and the college at which they would wish to pursue the course. Candidates will be allotted colleges and courses depending on the merit list of NEET PG, the vacancies available in the respective course and college, and the candidate’s preference.

A Doctor of Medicine degree and Doctorate in Medicine degree are often confused with one another. The primary difference between an MD and a DM degree is that the former is a postgraduate degree and the latter is a super speciality degree available after completing a postgraduate degree. Tabulated below are the major differences between MD and DM degrees to draw a clear picture of what each degree offers.

There are many popular MD colleges in India offering general Doctor of Medicine as well as its specializations. Although the admission is done on the basis of merit in the NEET PG and other college specific entrance exams, cumulated below is a list of popular government and private colleges offering MD courses.

One can also opt to study MD abroad. Studying MD abroad gives the candidates certain benefits like placement in countries abroad and better average annual packages. Although getting admission in the colleges abroad can be tricky as there are no common entrance tests, one has to apply to the colleges individually while keeping in mind all the requirements. Check below the highlights for studying MD abroad.

There are a number of colleges abroad offering Doctor of Medicine courses. Tabulated below are some top MD colleges abroad that students can consider for taking admission.

The MD course fees differ from college to college. MD course fees are relatively lower in government colleges and universities and higher in private medical colleges and institutions. The course fee for a general Doctor of Medicine differs from the specializations of MD. The average fee structure for MD courses is tabulated below.

The syllabus for the various specializations of MD in India are driven by the field matter of each specialization. Aiming to equip the candidates with in-depth knowledge about the field and skills to deal with every kind of case, patient and situation, the MD syllabus for different specializations is curated with result orientation. The various MD syllabus for different specializations is listed below.

MD in Cardiology: 

The MD syllabus for specialization in Cardiology can be divided into three broad sections- Clinical Cardiology, Non-Invasive Techniques, and Invasive Cardiology. Find below the detailed MD syllabus for Cardiology specialization for the three sections.

Clinical Cardiology-

• Coronary artery disease
• Systemic hypertension
• Rheumatic heart disease
• Systemic disease involving the heart
• Congenital heart disease and other pediatric cardiac disorders
• Heart muscle diseases
• Pericardial diseases
• Traumatic heart disease
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Tumors of heart
• Heart failure
• Genetics
• Peripheral vascular disorders
• Geriatric heart disease
• Pulmonary thrombo- embolism and pulmonary hypertension
• General anaesthesia
• Pregnancy and heart disease
• Epidemiology and preventive cardiology

Non- Invasive Techniques-

• Electrocardiography
• Radiography
• Stress testing
• Holter monitoring
• Echocardiography

Invasive Cardiology-

• Experience in cardiac catheterization
• Heart and coronary angiography procedures in adults
• Performing temporary pacemaker insertions
• Assist in various interventions including coronary, congenital interventions and valvuloplasty
• Electrophysiology

MD in Clinical Hematology: 

The MD syllabus for specialization in Clinical Hematology is listed below according to the annual syllabus of the course.

1st Year:

• Basics of Hematology
• Introduction to clinical haematology
• 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 the diagnosis of leukaemia

2nd Year-

• Iron metabolism and iron deficiency anaemia
• Megaloblastic anaemia
• Red cell membrane defects and enzymopathies
• Thalassemia
• Sickle Cell anaemia
• Abnormal haemoglobin
• Lab diagnosis of platelet function
• Immune hemolytic anaemia

3rd Year-

• Cell Cycle and Carcinogenesis
• Principles of Chemotherapy
• Reactive lymphocytosis
• Acute leukaemia
• Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children and adults
• T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders
• Bone marrow transplantation
• Disorders of spleen

MD in Clinical Pharmacology: 

The core syllabus for MD specialization in Clinical Pharmacology is listed below. These are the subjects and topics that are covered in the course for MD in Clinical Pharmacology over the duration of the course.

• Central Nervous System
• Autonomic Nervous System
• Qualitative and Quantitative
• Biostatics
• Pharmacokinetics
• Cardiovascular System
• Pharmacodynamics
• Direct Interactions
• CPCSEA
• Study Design
• Hematopoietic System
• Dissertation
• Pharmacogenomics
• Endocrinology
• Renal System
• Respiratory System
• Gastrointestinal System
• Autonomic Nervous System
• Microbial Resistance
• Endocrine Pharmacology
• Chemotherapy
• Rational drugs
• Data archiving and management

MD in Endocrinology:

The topics and subjects listed below are some of the core topics from the MD syllabus for Endocrinology specialization. 

• Obesity
• Thyroid
• Growth and Malnutrition
• Adrenal Gland and Adrenal Hormones
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Neuroendocrinology
• Pituitary disease
• Cardiovascular Endocrinology
• Reproductive endocrinology
• Endocrinology of pregnancy
• Immunology and endocrinology
• Parathyroid gland, calciotropic hormone
• Bone metabolism
• Endocrine Tumor Syndromes
• Basic Science
• Clinical epidemiology
• Endocrinology in medical disorders
• Theoretical aspects of endocrine procedures
• Record Keeping
• Medical Audit
• Computer databases
• Medical nutrition therapy
• Hormone assay procedures
• Radiological and medical aspects
• Clinical, research and laboratory skills
• Extramural training
• Anatomy

MD in Medical Gastroenterology:

The syllabus for MD in Medical Gastroenterology is listed below. The MD syllabus is listed according to the annual division of the syllabus.

1st Year-

• Immune system
• Molecular biology
• Genetic diseases
• Gene therapy
• Tumor biology 
• Gastrointestinal hormones
• Embryology

2nd Year-

• Upper lower gastrointestinal bleeding
• Gastrointestinal tuberculosis
• HIV and GIT
• Liver in systemic diseases
• Vascular diseases of the GIT

3rd Year-

• GI radiology
• GI pathology
• Endoscopic training

MD in Neonatology: 

Syllabus for MD in Neonatology is divided into broad topics under which there are multiple topics covered for the course. The curriculum covers all the aspects of neonatal through these topics over the duration of the course.

Basic Sciences-

• Basic genetics
• Fetal and neonatal immunology
• Applied anatomy and embryology
• Feto-placental physiology
• Fetal growth

Neonatal Adaptation-

• Physiology and Development of Respiratory system, Cardiovascular system, developmental, defects, physiology and hemodynamics of congenital heart disease,
• Nervous system, gastrointestinal system, Renal system, Hematopoietic system, Endocrine system
• Metabolic pathways pertaining to glucose, calcium and magnesium
• Biochemical basis of inborn errors of metabolism
• Electrolyte balance
• Development pharmacology
• Mechanism of disease
• Fluid & electrolyte management

General Topics-

• Research methodology, Teaching methodology, Biostatistics, Epidemiology
• Health economics, Health Information System
• Ethics in Perinatology / Neonatology
• Medical education, Computer & Information technology

Neonatology-

• Neonatal resuscitation
• Management of normal newborn
• Management of LBW, VLBW, ELBW infants
• Management of sick neonate
• Emergency neonatal care
• Thermoregulation
• Neonatal transport

Perinatology-

• Perinatal outreach services
• Perinatal and neonatal mortality, morbidity, epidemiology (Perinatal Audit)
• High risk pregnancy & impact on the fetus
• Fetal monitoring and Fetal intervention
• Intrapartum monitoring and procedures
• Genetic counseling, Diagnosis and management of fetal diseases

Neonatal Ventilation-

• Blood gas and acid base disorders
• Neonatal assessment
• Assessment of gestation, neonatal behavior, neonatal reflexes
• Developmental assessment, detection of neuromotor delay, stimulation
• Techniques

Respiratory System-

• Neonatal airways: physiology, pathology; management
• Pulmonary diseases: hyaline membrane disease, transient tachypnea,
• Oxygen therapy and its monitoring
• Pulmonary infections
• Miscellaneous pulmonary disorders
• Hypertension in neonates

Cardiovascular System-

• Fetal circulation, transition from fetal to neonatal physiology
• Examination and interpretation of cardiovascular signs and symptoms
• Special tests and procedure (Echocardiography, angiography)
• Diagnosis and management of congenital heart diseases
• Rhythm disturbances

Neurology-

• Clinical neurological assessment
• EEG, ultrasonography, CT scan
• Neonatal seizures
• Intracranial haemorrhage
• Brain imaging
• Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
• Neuro-muscular disorder
• Degenerative diseases
• CNS malformation
• Renal functions

Gastrointestinal System-

• Disorders of liver and biliary system
• Bilirubin metabolism
• Neonatal jaundice, Prolonged hyperbilirubinemia, Kernicterus
• Congenital malformations
• Necrotizing enterocolitis

Neonatal Ophthalmology-

• Development aspects
• Retinopathy of prematurity
• Sequelae of perinatal infections
• Neonatal Hearing assessment
• Community neonatology
• Vital statistics
• Health system
• Neonatal care priorities
• Care at primary, secondary & tertiary level of care
• Role of different health functionaries
• Physiology

Renal System-

• Development disorders
• Fluid and electrolyte management
• Acute renal failure (diagnosis, monitoring, management).
• Endocrine and metabolism
• Glucose metabolism, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia
• Calcium disorders
• Magnesium disorders
• Thyroid disorders
• Adrenal disorders
• Ambiguous genitalia
• Inborn errors of metabolism
• Hematology
• Anemia
• Polycythemia
• Bleeding and coagulation disorders
• Rh hemolytic disease
• Blood Component therapy

National Program-

• National Neonatology Forum
• Neonatal dermatology
• Neonatal Imaging
• Developmental assessment and follow up
• Organization of neonatal care
• Adoption
• Recent Advances
• Laboratory Medicine
• Neonatal procedures
• Therapeutic agents
• Biomedical equipment, use & maintenance.

Neonatal Infections-

• Intrauterine infections
• Superficial infections
• Diarrhea
• Septicemia
• Meningitis
• Osteomyelitis and arthritis
• Pneumonias
• Perinatal HIV
• Miscellaneous infective disorders & fungal infections

MD in Pulmonary Medicine: 

Listed below are the core subjects from the MD syllabus for specialization in Pulmonary Medicine.

• General Medicine
• Development of respiratory tract
• Transport of blood gasses Diffusion, Diffusion capacity
• Diagnostic procedures
• Assessment of lung function
• Interstitial lung disease including drug-induced/ Radiation-induced lung disease
• Environmental lung disease including indoor/ outdoor air pollution, high attitude/ diving injuries
• Pulmonary vascular disorders including pulmonary emboli, vasculitis syndromes, pulmonary hypertension
• Surgical aspects of pulmonary medicine including lung transplantation
• Immunology as applied to lung
• Cardiology
• Radiodiagnosis
• Anesthesiology
• Pediatrics
• Social & Preventive Medicine
• Radiotherapy

The Doctor of Medicine or an MD degree consists of 3 years of dedicated education in the specific field of your choice. The medical colleges that offer the degree, divide the 3 years into 6 semesters, with 2 semesters every year. During the 3 years or 6 semesters in MD, students will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge and experience in the field and specialization of their choice. Tabulated below is the MD syllabus for all the years.

First Year:

Second Year:

Third Year:

The course curriculum for MD (Doctor of Medicine) aims at equipping the candidate with knowledge and skills through a syllabus evenly comprising theory, soft skill training and practical application. The topics covered under these three parts enable the candidates to be able to handle any given situation at hand. Listed below are the topics from the course curriculum for MD, divided into the three broad categories of theory, skills, and practical work.

Theory

• Applied basic science knowledge
• Diseases with reference to General Medicine
• Recent advances
• Biostatistics and clinical epidemiology

Soft skills

• Decision-making
• Diagnostic investigation and procedures
• Monitoring seriously ill patients
• Counseling patients and relatives
• Ability to teach undergraduate students
• Ability to carry out research

Practical

• Ward/ OPD patient management
• Long and short topic presentations
• Ward rounds, case presentations and discussions
• Clinico-radiological and clinicopathological conferences
• Journal conferences
• PG Case presentation clinics
• Research review
• In-house and guest lectures
• Conferences, symposia, seminars and CMEs
• Participation in workshops, updates, conferences
• Teaching undergraduate
• Use and maintenance of biomedical equipment

The industry of medicine and healthcare is an ever-expanding and growing field, where the number of jobs available is more than the number of qualified professionals. Like many other master's level courses in other disciplines in the industry, a postgraduate course expands the MD career options and job prospects.

After completing an MD degree in one of the specializations, the job options in MD will only increase. While there are many MBBS graduates, there is a dearth in the number of skilled and qualified professionals specializing in different fields of medicine.

Here are some of the sectors under which an MD graduate will be able to complete their course.

• Government and Private Hospitals

• Super-Speciality Hospitals

• Biomedical Companies

• Pharmaceutical Companies

• Nursing Homes

• Research And Medical Colleges/Institutes

• Laboratories

Some of the job profiles that will be available to those who have completed their MD are as follows:

• General Practitioner

• Anaesthesiologist

• Dermatologist

• Physician

• Psychiatrist

• Cardiologist

• Nutritionist

• Pathologist

• Physiologist

• Gynaecologist

• Obstetrician

• Orthopaedist

• Chiropodist

After the completion of one’s MD degree, the job profiles that will be available to the candidates will be immense and the growth opportunities will also be innumerable. The need for a specialist in the industry will allow MD graduates to earn an average initial salary of INR 3 - 6 lakhs, which is highly dependent on the chosen specialization as well as the place of employment. Like every other job and career path, the increase in experience and knowledge in the specific industry will lead to better career opportunities and packages.

MD salary in India differs according to the MD specialization one opts for. On average, an MD fresher is offered an average annual package of INR 3 lakhs which can go up to INR 20 lakhs. The MD salary also varies depending on the place of work. The government entities pay significantly lower annual packages than private entities but provide their employees with other amenities. The table below contains the average salary for MD specializations.

The future scope after Doctor of Medicine (MD) in India is huge and ever-growing, as the constant demand for the same has evidently increased in both the government as well as the private sectors in the recent past. An MD is sought in India by Pharmaceutical companies for research and development wherein MD graduates are sought as educators in medical institutions, and are also preferred in administration roles as well. Thus, the scope of MD in India extends from employment in hospitals as Resident Doctors, Surgeons, Clinical Specialists And Department Managers to employment in private entities as research specialists. 

After successfully completing a Doctor of Medicine, students can opt for high-paying career prospects which are better in the long run. The scope of MD after completing the course program are mentioned below in detail:

• Government Jobs: After completing a course in Doctor of Medicine, candidates can apply for MD jobs in the government sector which is not easy to crack, however, offer a good future prospect. These government jobs offer to pay a hefty salary and come along with many additional benefits as well. Candidates would be pleased to know that a lot of Doctor recruitment exams are conducted by UPSC where MD qualified doctors can certainly get an upper hand in terms of eligibility and admission. 
• Private Jobs: While the ever-increasing demand as well as shortage of medical practitioners has persisted since a long period of time, a large number of Doctor of Medicine jobs in the private sector has opened up several career opportunities for MD specialized doctors by conducting frequent hiring processes and offering lucrative salary packages upon joining.
• Clinical set up: MD graduates also have an option to set up their own clinic, having their own rules made on a convenience basis. The beginning might not be great but once they cope through that then undoubtedly their future can be deemed safe and secured.
• Non Governmental Organization (NGO): MD graduates may also opt for seeking a career in NGOs if their beliefs are aligned with that of the respected organizations. It is important to note that not all jobs in NGOs are unpaid, and some of them offer really high-valued salary packages to the best fit candidates.
• Higher Studies: This is never an option for a Doctor of Medicine 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.

There are certain skills that make one the best MD for their patients. Patients should feel confident while approaching the Doctor with their problems and trust the MD to treat them to the best of their ability.