What is Medical Pg Course: Specialized Training After MBBS

A medical PG course refers to a specialized postgraduate training program pursued after completing an MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery). These courses allow doctors to delve deeper into niche specialties and super-specialties, expanding their skill sets to practice medicine at an advanced level. In India, medical PG courses are offered in two main training formats - MD/MS degrees or DM/MCh super specialty degrees.

The Need for Specialized Medical Training

In recent decades, advancements in medical technology and healthcare treatments have increased, branching out into specialized domains. Where an MBBS doctor previously may have provided generalized care, the current landscape requires advanced training. A medical PG course fulfills this knowledge gap.

Pursuing an MD or MS allows for specialization into over 30 niche subjects, from cardiology, neurology, and gastroenterology to dermatology, anatomy, microbiology, and more. This enables providing targeted medical care equipped with cutting-edge domain understanding.

Further super-specialization for highly technical intervention-based care is enabled by DM and MCh degrees in upcoming super specialties.

Eligibility Criteria for Medical PG Courses

The essential eligibility criteria to apply for a medical postgraduate course are:

• Completion of MBBS degree from an accredited institute
• Compulsory one-year rotatory internship
• Qualifying for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate courses (NEET PG)

These entrance exam scores are used to allot seats for MD/MS and DM/MCh programs via counseling.

In addition to NEET PG, several medical colleges and institutes conduct separate selection rounds comprising interviews and skill tests. Seat allocation is highly competitive, given the limited capacity for hands-on specialized training.

Types of Medical Postgraduate Degrees

The two main types of medical PG course options are:

MD/MS: Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery Degrees

These are 3-year broad specialization courses comprising intensive coursework and residency training under senior doctors.

Over 30 disciplines are offered at over 500 medical colleges, including:

• MD in Anesthesiology, Biochemistry, General Medicine, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Pathology etc.
• MS in ENT, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics and Gynecology etc.

After completion, doctors can append the specialist tag against their professional credentials.

DM/MCh: Super Specialty Doctoral and Magister Degrees

DM refers to 'Doctor of Medicine,' and MCh refers to 'Magister Chirurgiae' degrees. These medical PG courses involve 2-3 years of super specialty training.

Offered in up to 14 niche subjects like:

• DM in Cardiology, Neurology, Cardiac Anesthesiology, Clinical Hematology etc.
• MCh in Plastic Surgery, Surgical Gastroenterology, Urology etc.

Pursuing these equips doctors to practice, teach, and conduct research at the topmost level of their specialty.

Course Structure: Rigorous Academics and Clinical Training

While the course durations vary from 3 to 5 years, the basic structure involves intense academic learning supplemented by extensive twice-weekly clinical rotations under experienced faculty and senior doctors.

The academic syllabus covers advanced disease progression, disorder management, and supporting diagnostic knowledge pertinent to the specialty.

Rotations across relevant departments aim to foster technical skills, decision-making abilities, patient examination, and treatment competencies. Medical PG students gradually take on more specialized cases under guidance.

Summative and yearly formative assessments test core subject knowledge and clinical acumen. Research work and a final thesis completion are also mandatory before degree conferral.

Career Prospects After Medical PG Courses

Pursuing an MD/MS or DM/MCh degree opens up the prospects for senior-level job roles and lucrative packages in India or abroad.

With a broad specialization, doctors can attain positions like:

• Senior Residents in large multi-specialty hospitals
• Specialist consultants in clinics
• Faculty roles in medical colleges

Super specialty qualifications make one eligible for niche technical and leadership positions like:

• Chief Cardiologist, Chief Neurosurgeon, Chief of Medical Services
• Director roles in specialty institutions
• Global research opportunities in cutting-edge subdomains

Medical postgraduate courses build on the foundations of an MBBS degree to open up specialized career avenues. Given the evolving healthcare demands, advanced training enables doctors to provide sophisticated clinical care, address complex disorders, take on challenging surgeries, and save critical lives. These programs test the mettle through rigorous coursework and extensive residency while shaping following-generation specialists and leaders in healthcare.

Medical PG in India

The candidates that take admission to PG courses in most of the colleges in India need to qualify the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-PG). Once they clear the NEET PG exam, they have the following PG Medical Course s to opt for:

M.D. (Doctor of Medicine): It is a 3 years PG course degree in medicine. The candidates who hold the MBBS degree in their under graduation are eligible to apply for the PG course. The candidates can opt for a Doctor of Medicine or MD degree for specialization in post-graduation that wants to excel in the field of medicine. After successful completion of this medical PG course, candidates will be eligible to work as a physician.

M.S. (Master of Surgery): It is also 3 years PG course that leads to a postgraduate degree in medical surgery. The candidates who hold the MBBS degree in their under graduation are eligible to apply for the PG course. The candidates who want to have more theoretical and research knowledge as well as practical and clinical skills regarding the surgery can opt for a Master of Surgery by pursuing a PG course. After successful completion of this PG course, the candidates will be eligible to work as Surgeon.

Postgraduate Diploma (PG Diploma): It is a diploma program in medicine which is provided by several medical colleges across India. The candidates who hold the MBBS degree in their under graduation are eligible to apply for the PG course. The duration of this PG course varies from 2 to 3 years.

Medical PG in Karnataka

KEA (Karnataka Examination Authority) conducts admission to medical PG in Karnataka. Medical PG in Karnataka will be granted on the basis of scores acquired in NEET PG by the candidates. The candidates must secure at least a qualifying percentile as specified by the NBE (National Board of Examinations). It is important for the candidates to go through the eligibility conditions before applying for admission to medical PG in Karnataka. Some of the basic Medical PG in Karnataka eligibility conditions are as given below:

• The candidates must have completed MBBS/BDS from any college recognized by the MCI (Medical Council of India) or DCI (Dental Council of India).
• The graduates who will be completing or have completed the rotator internship on or before March 31, 2020, can take admission to the Medical PG course.
• They must have got the registration certificate from MCI/State Medical Council or DCI/State Dental Council (SDC).
• It is a must to secure the NEET PG cutoff qualifying percentile to qualify the entrance examination.

Medical PG in Germany

The PG course offers an opportunity for the MBBS graduates to opt for a specialized understanding of their specialized area or profession. It also helps them to gain a higher level of skills needed in the field of medicine. After completing the MBBS course successfully from the different MCI approved medical universities/colleges, the medical graduates have a rewarding career ahead. Indian medical graduates can opt for medical PG in abroad such as medical PG in Germany, Russia, Ukraine, and more. Each country has different eligibility criteria, specialization areas, course duration, and process for admission to their medical PG courses.

The candidates can also go for masters in hospital administration which has a great scope in the developing medical sector along with several other specializations. After the successful completion of the PG course including MD or MS, the candidates can find lots of opportunities abroad as well as in India. Pursuing Medical PG in Germany will make the candidates’ career go much high. However, Russia, Ukraine also provides PG courses but comparative Germany costs less expensive.