Future of MBBS students in India: 2021 and beyond?

MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) is a popular course in India for students to take up after 10+2. The courses’ admissions are usually based on entrance tests such as NEET, which is conducted nationwide.

The duration of the MBBS course is 5.6 years, which also includes a year of mandatory internship. The average fees for the MBBS course in India range from Rs. 10,000 to 6 lakhs. Post completion, one can pursue further studies like MD or MS courses or work as an Intern, Medical Officer, surgeon, etc.

The top institutes in India that offer the MBBS programme are AIIMS, New Delhi, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, CMC, Vellore, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, AMFC, Pune etc. Here we will talk about the future of MBBS in India.

Future of MBBS in India: in post-COVID-19 World

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the past year has initiated a discourse surrounding India’s healthcare sector in India and the needs for possible changes. The changes could begin with the education of medical professionals, especially doctors. Thus, the curriculum and other relevant norms regarding the MBBS course requires to be reviewed.

A Group of Ministers forms a committee under Shripad Yesso Naik’s leadership (AYUSH Minister). The committee has proposed various reforms related to the MBBS course to improve India’s healthcare sector. Changes related to the curriculum and the longevity of the course may be brought into effect if they are approved.

The committee submitted its report titled “Converting Adversity into Opportunity to Strengthen Healthcare Infrastructure in post-Covid-19 India” to the government, and some of its proposals have been given below:

1. The committee proposed that the duration for the MBBS course in India be reduced to 4.6 years from the earlier duration of 5.6 years.
2. To take this step, the committee suggested three models.
3. According to the first model, duration of MBBS could be reduced to 4 years and for an internship to 4 years.
4. According to the second model, the meritorious students would be eligible for a speciality or super speciality post-graduate course after the MBBS course. The merit in the common exit exam would be considered. There would be no internship.
5. According to the third model, which seems to be somewhat similar to the second model, the students could get admitted to a 6 years long integrated course – 4 years MBBS and 2 years Post-graduate. There would be no internship.
6. The committee also advocated that the doctors be posted in rural areas for a period of 2 years before being awarded their degrees.
7. The committee also recommended that the course should help students acquire qualitative skills instead of just gathering knowledge of the quantitative type. Practical clinical skills are important, and students need not be burdened with the information they cannot apply.

The implementation of the reforms based on the report mentioned above is yet to occur if the committee’s recommendations are accepted.

What to do after MBBS?

After completing the MBBS course, candidates can explore job prospects or pursue further studies. They can work with biomedical companies, research institutions, nursing homes, pharmaceutical companies, non-profit organisations, or the education sector. The jobs could be taken up in private as well as the government establishments,

Academic research can be taken up at renowned medical institutions. Candidates also have the option to take up further studies to solidify their knowledge and skills. Some of the career options and the scope for higher studies have been explained further.

Career Options and Job Prospects after MBBS

After completing the MBBS course, candidates are eligible to work as medical professionals. The average salary package may range from 5 to 10 lakhs per annum.

Some of the common professions taken up by graduates with the MBBS degree have been given below with the respective average salaries offered:

• Some of the popular recruiters for MBBS pass-outs are Fortis Healthcare Ltd, Sun Pharmaceuticals Industry, Cipla, Apollo Hospitals, Medanta Hospitals etc.
• Most reputed institutions provide the students with opportunities for employment through campus placements.
• Besides working with medical companies or hospitals, candidates can also take up the teaching profession.

Further Study after MBBS

After completing their MBBS degree, students can choose to study further and specialise in their chosen discipline. Some of the options have been given below:

1. They can pursue the MD (Doctor of Medicine) course after MBBS in specialisations such as Anaesthesiology, Forensic Medicine, General Medicine, Physiology, Radiotherapy, Pharmacology, Paediatrics etc.
2. Another option is to pursue the MS (Master of Surgery) course after MBBS in specialisations like General Surgery, ENT, Orthopaedics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology etc.
3. Candidates can also take up a short-term diploma or certification courses in various specialisations.

Candidates who possess higher qualifications or specialisations will be opened up to more opportunities and broader job prospects with desirable average salary packages and job security.

Aspirants who aspire to take up MBBS in the year 2021 or the future can look forward to implementing some positive changes that would further advance the country’s healthcare infrastructure. The changes, as suggested by the committee, are unlikely to occur overnight.

According to the report’s suggested models, they would instead be implemented gradually, and the students would have time to adjust and adapt as they take place. For admissions to renowned institutions, students need to appear in entrance tests like NEET and perform well. After graduating from the course, they can look forward to starting a career or pursuing higher education, as their aptitudes and interests demand.