Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)

An MBBS degree is an undergraduate course for aspirants who want to fulfil their dream of becoming a doctor. This profession for those who are having enthusiasm to serve humanity through consoling those who are suffering with commitment, good knowledge and apt skills.

As the father of modern medicine, hippocrates said “cure rarely, comfort mostly but console always” still remains the motto of modern medicine during this high tech era of evidence based medical education.

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), is a professional degree in medical science. A person holding the MBBS degree becomes a certified medical practitioner.

Courses

MBBS is a 5.5 years course which includes 50-54 months of continuous education with one year compulsory rotatory internship at hospitals, health centres, and health camps organised by non-profit organisations (NGOs). 

The MBBS course syllabus includes the following:

  • Anatomy
  • Anesthesiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Community Medicine
  • Dermatology & Venereology
  • Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
  • Medicine
  • Microbiology
  • Obstetrics & Gynecology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Orthopaedics
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Paediatrics
  • Pathology
  • Pharmacology
  • Physiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Surgery

The syllabus, prescribed in such a way that MBBS degree holders can choose a specialisation for further majoring and practising medicine.

Specialisation after MBBS

The postgraduate medical education for broad specialities includes courses like MD, MS, PG Diploma, and DNB. PG Diploma course is for a duration of two years, the postgraduate medical degree is of three years duration. Doctor of Medicine (MD) is the postgraduate degree in general medicine while Master of Surgery (MS) is a qualification in surgery.

The specialities after MBBS are broadly divided among three different types- Clinical, Non-Clinical, and Paraclinical. The difference among them is whether you are providing direct patient care in terms of giving direct diagnosis or treatment. Clinical roles include face to face interaction with patients while non-clinical roles, in some cases, can require interaction with patients but they do not provide diagnoses. Paraclinical fields also do not include much involvement in inpatient care. The different specialisations after MBBS are listed below.

The major MS Specializations are ENT, General Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Biochemistry, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, Otorhinolaryngology,Traumatology & Surgery  etc

The major MD Specializations are Aerospace Medicine, Anatomy, Anesthesiology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Community medicine, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Forensic Medicine, General Medicine, Geriatrics, Immunohematology and Blood transfusion, Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Nuclear medicine, Paediatrics, Palliative Medicine, Pathology. Pharmacology, Psychiatry, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Physiology, Pulmonary medicine, Radiodiagnosis, Radiotherapy, Respiratory Medicine, Sports Medicine,Tropical Medicine etc

Diploma Specialisation are Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Anesthesiology, Clinical Pathology, Community Medicine/Public Health, Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, ENT, Immunohematology & Blood Transfusion, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Occupational Health, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, Otorhinolaryngology, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Pulmonary medicine, Radio-diagnosis, Radiation Medicine, Sports Medicine

Tropical medicine, Tuberculosis & Chest Diseases, Virology etc

Required Skills and Aptitude

Followings are the skills and aptitude required for a medical and health sciences practitioner:

  • Ability to work in a critical environment
  • Caring and sharing skills
  • Counselling
  • Critical thinking and good interpersonal skills 
  • Desire for knowledge and learnings
  • Empathy and kindness 
  • Enthusiasm and commitment to medical profession 
  • Good communication and prompt intervention
  • Medical writing skills
  • Patience and perseverance
  • Scientific research and development skills
  • Sharp memory and flexibility 

Eligibility Criteria

It is required for a science background to pursue a course in Medicine.The eligibility criteria is as follows.

  • Candidates must have passed their 10+2 level with 50% from any recognized board in science subjects like Physics, Chemistry, and Zoology/Botany with English as the main subject for their qualifying examination.Students belonging from the reserved category must have a minimum percentage of 40%.
  • Candidates must have completed the age of 17 years before seeking admission to the MBBS course.
  • Candidates need to qualify the required entrance exam for MBBS admissions (NEET). 
  • All the students will have to fulfill the additional eligibility conditions mentioned by the regulatory authorities for MBBS i.e. Medical Council of India (MCI).

Entrance Examination

Admission to various private/government medical colleges/deemed medical universities and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is through one and only entrance examination known as NEET (National Eligibility Cum entrance Test) conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency). There are no individual entrance examinations for medicine in state or institution level.  

The Admission Process for the course may vary from institute to institute based on the policies of the organization. 

Job Profiles

Some of the job profiles for MBBS graduates are as follows:

  • Army/navy/air force medical officers
  • Assistant surgeon/civil surgeon
  • CEO of multinational health sectors
  • Doctors
  • General physician
  • Insurance medical officers  
  • Lecturer or medical professor
  • Researcher
  • Scientist

Top Recruiters

MBBS graduates have oppertunities in both private and government sectors. Plenty of jobs are available for these professionals in the field of Biomedical Companies, Health Centres, Hospitals, Laboratories,  Nursing Homes, Polyclinics, Private Practice, etc. 

Followings are some of the government firms where jobs for MBBS graduates are available:

  • All India Medical Institutes
  • Army/Navy/Air Force Medical Service
  • Central government Health Service
  • Indian Railways
  • Insurance Medical Service
  • State Government Health Service
  • State Government Medical Colleges

Followings are some of the private firms where jobs for MBBS graduates are available.

  • Apollo Munich Health Industries Co Ltd
  • Biomedical Companies
  • Cipla Ltd
  • Clinics
  • Fortis Healthcare Ltd
  • Health Centres
  • Hospitals
  • Insurance Companies
  • Laboratories
  • Medanta Hospitals
  • Medical Colleges
  • Pharmaceutical Companies
  • Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd

Institutions

Institutions with national Importance

  • AIIMS at different locations New Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur, Rishikesh, Bhopal
  • Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune
  • JIPMER, Puducherry

Top 20 Medical Colleges in India as per NIRF Ranking:

  Name of the institution  State
  JSS Medical College - Mysore   Karnataka
  Kasturba Medical College - Manipal   Karnataka
  Kasturba Medical College - Mengaluru   Karnataka
  St. John's Medical College - Bangalore   Karnataka
  Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research - Kochi   Kerala
  Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth   Maharashtra
  All India Institute of Medical Sciences   New Delhi
  Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences   New Delhi
  Jamia Hamdard   New Delhi
  Maulana Azad Medical College   New Delhi
  Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital   New Delhi
  Jawaharlal Institute of PostGraduate Medical Education & Research   Pondicherry
  Christian Medical College Ludhiana   Punjab
  Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research – Chandigarh   Punjab
  Christian Medical College - Vellore   Tamil Nadu
  Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research - Chennai   Tamil Nadu
  Aligarh Muslim University - Aligarh   Uttar Pradesh
  Banaras Hindu University - Varanasi   Uttar Pradesh
  King George`s Medical University - Lucknow   Uttar Pradesh
  Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Science - Lucknow   Uttar Pradesh

Top Medical Colleges in Kerala.:

  Name of the institution  City
  Government T.D Medical College   Alappuzha
  Government Medical College   Ernakulam
  Government Medical College   Kannur
  Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Medical Mission College   Kolenchery
  Government Medical College   Kottayam
  Government Medical College   Kozhikode
  MES Medical College   Perinthalmanna
  Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre   Thiruvalla
  Government Medical College   Thiruvananthapuram
  Amala Institute of Medical Sciences   Thrissur
  Government Medical College   Thrissur
  Jubilee Mission Medical College & Research Institute   Thrissur

Questions & Answers​

Q) Can i write NEET 2020 if i have taken only physics/chemistry/mathematics in class 12?

A) According to MCI and NTA guidelines only students who have studied physics/chemistry/biology and english in class 12 are allowed to appear for NEET 2020.

Q) If I study MBBS abroad , am I eligible to practice in India ?

A) Yes, if u fulfill following conditions :-

  • You should have qualified mbbs degree from a recognized foreign medical institution listed by Medical Council of india (to see list of colleges recognized please visit MCI’S website https://www.mciindia.org/CMS )
  • You have to pass FMGE (foreign medical graduates examination) conducted by MCI to get a license to work in india.

Q) Is it compulsory to work in the army if i qualify mbbs from AFMC Pune?

A) Yes, you have to serve in the army to a certain period according to the bond signed by parents/guardians during admission

Q) Will all students of MBBS get a chance to dissect a cadaver ?

A) Yes, each and every student will get a chance to dissect cadaver in the duration of their course.

Q) Can transgender students take admission for MBBS ?

A) Yes, students of all genders are eligible to take admission in MBBS.

Q) Can students who completed class 12 from CBSE schools outside India take admission in MBBS under general category?

A) Yes, students of foreign CBSE schools are considered as equal to students who completed 12th inside India during admission.

Q) What are higher education options after MBBS ?

A) You can have post graduation like MD,MS,DNB,diploma in all branches of medical science and also non medical branches like Msc pathology, Msc microbiology etc.

Related Pages

This page is supported by: Dr. Najeeb Koormath