What is Community Medicine
Community medicine is the branch of medicine essentially dealing with healthcare issues that affect the community as a whole. It is also known as social medicine, preventive medicine, public health or community health science. It is concerned with the study of the history of a particular disease in a certain population, the influence of the environment on health and the prevention of diseases that spread at the community level. Statistically, every year, more people die of diseases like malaria, hypertension, diabetes and diarrhoea than from rare ailments. This is why community medicine, which deals with these common diseases are so important. This is the reason why public health which focuses on protecting and improving community health is so vital. It is intricately related to the well-being and economic prosperity of a nation.
Community medicine as a course is studied as a specialisation at the post-graduation level. One can study M.D in community medicine (Doctor of Medicine in Community Medicine) or diploma in community medicine. One can also opt for a doctoral degree in community medicine. There is no specialised undergraduate degree for community medicine but one essentially needs to complete his/her MBBS before opting for the specialisation.
Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Community Medicine
For admission into MBBS, a minimum of 50% in the aggregate in 10+2 board exam or any equivalent exam with a subject combination of physics, chemistry, biology and english is required for general category students. For the reserved category students, the minimum eligibility is 40% in the aggregate with the same subject combination in 10+2 or an equivalent exam. Plus, the candidate must have reached the age of seventeen years before 31st December of the current year.
Admission in postgraduate courses requires an aggregate of 50% in M.B.B.S. for general category students. For those belonging to the reserved category, the minimum percentage is 40 at the undergraduate level i.e. M.B.B.S.
Eligibility criteria for doctoral courses are 50% and 40% in aggregate in post graduation for the general category and reserved category students respectively.
For admission into postgraduate diploma in community medicine, one needs to have completed their graduation in M.B.B.S., BDS, BA or B.Sc. in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, health sciences, physiotherapy, natural life sciences or social science or any equivalent examination with a minimum aggregate of 50%.
Entrance Examinations for Both UG and PG Community Medicine Courses
There are many entrance examinations that a medical aspirant can opt to appear for. The examinations vary with the level and the institute one aspires to get admission in (sometimes). For admission in M.B.B.S. one needs to necessarily qualify in the NEET-UG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test- Undergraduate) which is the only all India based entrance examination for entry to medical colleges. Admission in M.D and DNB is by qualifying for the NEET-PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Post Graduate). There are other postgraduate examinations like the PGRIMER (Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) examination, JIPMER (Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research) entrance examination, Christian Medical College Vellore PG Medical entrance examination, AIIMS PG Medical field and entrance examination e.t.c.
Entrance to both postgraduate diploma and PhD in community medicine is merit-based. Subsequently, colleges conduct an interview after which the candidates are shortlisted.
College Predictors VIEW ALL
Scope of Community Medicine in India and Abroad
Community medicine in India as already discussed has varied scopes. One can start his/her career with the government institutions which have a handsome pay scale for the doctors. Enough job security is provided for an individual employed in a central or state government organisation. Individuals can join multiple hospitals in the private sector as visiting doctors and charge on an hourly basis. They can also do private practice from their own clinic and be roaring practitioners. Postgraduates are hired in various departments like the research department, teaching department, etc.
Potential candidates can also decide to write the UPSC examination for setting up a career in civil service or opt for DNB, DM, M.Phil, PhD or even MBA by clearing respective entrance tests.
One can join United Nation organisations like WHO (World Health Organization), UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund), UNDP (United Nations Development Program), UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) e.t.c. These organisations provide amazing career opportunities to an individual with a vast array of exposure to practical problems in the field thus allowing the individual to increase their knowledge and work experience.
Course Fees Community Medicine
| Minimum Fees | Maximum Fees | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private | Government | Private | Government | |
| UG |
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Data not available
|
1.31 Lakhs
B.Sc. in Community Medicine at Shri Vasantrao Naik Government Medical College, Yavatmal
|
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Data not available
|
1.31 Lakhs
B.Sc. in Community Medicine at Shri Vasantrao Naik Government Medical College, Yavatmal
|
| PG |
30.00 K
M.D. in Community Medicine at FH Medical College, Agra
|
4.63 K
M.D. in Community Medicine at All India Institute of Medical Sciences Mangalagiri
|
1.50 Crores
M.D. in Community Medicine at Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar
|
5.88 Lakhs
M.D. in Community Medicine at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati
|
| DOCTORAL |
96.00 K
Ph.D in Community Medicine at Adichunchanagiri University, Mandya
|
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Data not available
|
6.29 Lakhs
Ph.D in Community Medicine at Al-Karim University, Katihar
|
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Data not available
|
| DIPLOMA |
1.20 Lakhs
Diploma in Community Medicine at Mangalayatan University, Aligarh
|
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Data not available
|
1.20 Lakhs
Diploma in Community Medicine at Mangalayatan University, Aligarh
|
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Data not available
|
Course Subjects
The syllabus varies according to the community medicine degree an individual is pursuing. The main subjects for the different courses are as follows-
Diploma in Community Medicine
Health behaviour
Epidemiology
Health services administration
Public health, environment and society
Biostatistics
Global application in public health
M.D in Community Medicine
Communicable and non-communicable diseases, emerging and re-emerging diseases
Applied epidemiology
Health research and bio-statistics
Nutrition
Environmental health
Primary health care system, panchayat raj, national health programmes including rich demography and family welfare
Health care administration, health management and public health leadership
Health policy, medical education, integrating the alternative system of medicine
Social and behavioural sciences
Public health legislations
International health
Occupational health
The recent advances in public health and miscellaneous issues
Health economics
PhD in Community Medicine
Human biology and public health chemistry
Medical and health statistics
Research methods in public health
Epidemiology
Demography and population sciences
Communicable and infectious diseases
Human psychology, communication and
Counselling
Public health nutrition
International health
Environmental health and sustainable
development
Occupational, industrial and urban health
The health of the vulnerable population
Health systems development and management
Careers in Community Medicine
Job prospects vary accordingly with the levels stated above. After completion of M.D in community medicine, one can get into government institutions. They can sit for the UPSC examinations which are for the civil service professions. They can apply in public healthcare facilities, railways, or get empanelled in government organisations such as banks, insurance companies, etc. A person with an M.B.B.S or MD degree can set up his/her clinic and start a private practice. Doctors who are specialists in community medicine can also do jobs in private sector hospitals and nursing homes.
After completing a PhD in community medicine one can get into research fields. They can also get into the teaching field by becoming professors and lecturers. They can also get into writing fields.
For detailed information on specific jobs in community medicine, scroll down.
Upcoming trends
With the increasing population, the usage of machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) comes into play. This offers efficient ways to diagnose diseases and their symptoms, develop effective treatment protocols, monitor the spread of epidemics and pandemics, conduct clinical trials, and make surgeries more doctor and patient-friendly and more efficient. Synergistic robots such as 'da Vinci' surgical robot is assisting doctors in the operation theatres. Without a doubt, robots will soon take over a lot of manual jobs in the healthcare sector. Already, doctors are taking the help of telepresence robots to treat patients. Automated labs, prosthetics, micro-bots and other applications of robotics will become the mainstay of medical engineering.
Telemedicine is another area of growth. Multinational healthcare organisations have started to use telemedicine for expanding. Newer technologies focus on customer relationship management.
One subject that is driving the progress in all branches of life sciences and medicine is genetics. The advancements in the field are reflecting on pharmacology, oncology, infections disease management and more. Research in fields like graft rejection, cystic fibrosis, cancers and virology are making commendable progress.
Trends in community medicine reflect on society as a whole. With every progress and advancements made, it benefits the mass as a whole.
Job Profiles and Top Recruiters
Some desirable job profiles in community medicine are:
Physician in the government health sector- An individual can practice as a physician in a government hospital.
Physician in the private health sector- One can practice as a physician in private hospitals or can set their own clinics for private practice.
Visiting doctor in a hospital/nursing home- Individuals can act as visiting doctors in a hospital and charge on an hourly basis.
Research public health analyst- They are professionals who provide effective solutions for social problems affecting the health of a community by conducting research.
Public health research epidemiologist- Individuals opting for this job profile can either research on the subject or clinically treat and concentrate on patients.
Polio eradication officer- Polio eradication officers represent the polio eradication programme which is under UNICEF. They undertake duties in relation to programmes for eradication of polio.
Emergency response officer- Emergency response officer (EROs) are individuals who are trained to give the first-line treatment in any emergency situation.
Public health planning and education officer- They are responsible for planning, implementing and progress of health promotional programmes.
Internal medicine consultant- They treat the internal disorders and conditions and accordingly prescribe medication and treatment.
Public health manager- They are responsible for the maintenance of healthcare standards, managing finances and coordinating treatment programmes for providing an efficient healthcare system.
Scientists (community medicine)- They conduct studies that investigate human diseases, their prevention and treatment.
Professors- Qualified medical professionals who teach in medical colleges.
Community Medicine: Top Recruiters
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Indian Railway Medical Services
State Public Service Commission
Fortis Healthcare
MAX Healthcare
Apollo Hospitals
National Rural Health Mission
AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Science)
Government medical colleges
Military healthcare institutes
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) such as CRY, CINI, PATH, CARE International, etc.
Globally, this branch deserves a lot more attention than it gets now. The day every global citizen will get quality health service at their doorstep, community medicine, in its true meaning, will be victorious that day.
Average Salary
The salary of individuals holding diploma postgraduate degree in community medicine ranges from 2-20 lakhs per annum. Individuals holding an M.D degree in community medicine have their earnings in the range 4-24 lakhs per annum. Individuals who are into private practising and associated with flourishing private hospitals have their income on the higher end. With a PhD in community, medicine earns a pay scale of 1-3 lakh rupees per month.
Required Skillset for Community Medicine
Communication- Written and verbal communication skills are vital. Community medicine doctors may have to work at grassroots levels. So, it is important for them to be able to convey all information with absolute clarity.
Life balance- A good sense of work-life balance ensures optimum productivity for healthcare professionals. They have to work for long hours and sometimes, at remote locations or in difficult situations. So, it is important that they don’t get fatigued easily.
Strong listening ability- Community medicine doctors must be good listeners as they have to work with the mass. So, they must have enough patience to listen to people about their health problems and advise accordingly.
Prioritizing caregiving and patients- This goes without saying. A doctor no matter what his area of specialisation is must put his duty and patient first. Compassion is all that makes caregiving and treatment more effective.
Time management- To handle hundred patients in a row- either at the hospital outpatient department or village health centre, a doctor must have superb time management skills. It develops with practice and time itself.
Course Curriculum for Community Medicine
The course curriculum for community medicine is as follows-
Concepts in health- definition, appreciation of health as a relative concept, determinants of health, National Health Policy (NHP), difficulties in measurement of the of health, and the indices used. Properties of agent, host and environmental factors health, diseases and multifactorial etiologies of diseases, prevention, the health situation in India: demography, mortality, morbidity profile and existing health facilities in health services.
Epidemiologist- Use of epidemiological tools, definition, concept, role in diseases and health, the natural history of the disease and its application, mode of transmission, measures for prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases, need and use of screening tests, common statistical tools for analysis, interpretation and presentation of data, measures of central tendency, application of computers in epidemiology.
Epidemiology of specific diseases- Infective hepatitis, ARI, T.B., malaria, filariasis, STDs and AIDS, diarrhoeal diseases, kala-azar, mental health, coronary artery disease, blindness, hypertension, leprosy, accidents, JE, VPDs, plague, chickenpox, etc.
Biostatistics- Scope and use, analyzing and interpreting data, making comparisons, collection and presentation of data.
Entomology- Vectors of diseases, management of insecticide toxicity, identifying characteristics and mode of vector-borne diseases, methods of vector control and mode of commonly used insecticide.
Environmental sanitation- awareness of relation with the environment, safe and wholesome water, safe disposal of human excreta.
Reproductive and child health- special services for women and children, mortality and morbidity in these groups, local customs practised during pregnancy, childbirth, lactation; safe motherhood, integrated child development, immunization, national policy in children, the role of genetics in community health, genetic counselling at primary care level, organisation and implementation of programmes for mother and children.
Demography and family planning- Definition, demographic cycle and their effect on the population, MTP Act, guidelines for MTP and infertility services, recent advances in contraception, national population policies, principles of counselling, need for population control measures.
Health planning and management- Definitions of different terms, components of health care delivery, familiarity with management techniques, components of health care delivery, general principles of health economics and various techniques of health management.
Nutrition- Role of nutrition in health and diseases, common sources of nutrients, specific nutritional requirements, national nutritional policy, food adulterations, national programmes in nutrition, common nutritional disorders.
Sociology- Conduction of clinical-social evaluations of individuals, development of a good doctor, impact of urbanization on health and diseases.
School health- Problems of school and adolescence, objectives of school health programme, activities of the school programme.
Occupational health- Identification of physical, chemical and biological hazards to which workers are exposed, associated history of symptoms, diagnostic criteria of occupational diseases, various legislations in relation to occupational health, employees state insurance scheme.
Health education- Communicate with individuals, family and community using tools and techniques, principles, methods and evaluation of health education.
Urban health- Common health problems of urban slum dwellers, organisation of health services for slum dwellers.
Popular Community Medicine Entrance Exams in India
Popular Community Medicine Colleges in India VIEW ALL
Lucknow University
- Fees: ₹ 60320
AIIMS Rishikesh
- Exams: INI CET
SKIMS Srinagar
- Exams: NEET PG
KUHS Thrissur
- Exams: NEET PG
PGIMER Chandigarh
- Fees: ₹ 12410
- Exams: INI CET
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: What is the scope of community health and preventive medicine?
Answer :
The career choices available in community medicine are varied and numerous. Based on the degree and experience, community medicine practitioners can join the healthcare sector (public or private) and allied fields as health interns, physicians, epidemiologists, consultants, researchers, professors, or health educators. Non-governmental organisations employ community medicine experts in large number. With more emphasis being given on inclusive social development and growth, the scope of community medicine is expected to grow further in the years to come.
Question: Why is community medicine important?
Answer :
Community medicine forms the very base of the healthcare system. It aims at the promotion of health and fitness in a community. Prevention of chronic diseases is its main goal. This is of prime importance to a community.
Question: What makes a community healthy?
Answer :
A healthy community is one which has access to quality healthcare at their doorsteps. They are free from chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, etc.
Question: What is MD community medicine?
Answer :
MD in community medicine is a super specialisation course pursued at postgraduate level. Doctor of Medicine in community medicine is a three-year course concerned with diseases affecting a community as a whole.
Question: Is community medicine a clinical subject?
Answer :
Community medicine is not specifically a clinical speciality subject. It is clinical when the doctors of community medicine provide service in hospitals and clinics. It is better to say that community medicine is a para-clinical speciality.
