What is Preventative Medicine
Preventative medicine refers to the prevention of death or disease by taking precautions to avert the disease. Prevention can be of the community as a whole or an individual. It is well researched that seven out of ten people die out of chronic disease; hence it becomes important to prevent the disease.
Prevention can be of diseases like- Tuberculosis, STI’s (Sexually Transmitted Infection), etc. or from diseases like obesity, asthma, sinus.
Preventative medication is usually encouraged by the physicians but a few of them specialize in this field. It is a newly developed and fastest growing branch in medical science and after the COVID-19 pandemic all around the world, it is emerging and will be one of the most recognized sectors.
Many universities all across the globe provide a Doctorate of Medicine (MD) or Master of Science in Preventative Medicine. In India, it is known as Doctorate of Medicine in Preventive and Social Medicine (MD in Preventive and Social Medicine) and is a two-year course comprising four semesters.
Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Preventative Medicine
For a student to take admission in any college or university for pursuing Preventative Medicine (or Preventive Medicine), he/she must fulfil the following criteria-
In India, it is necessary to hold a degree in Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) or any equivalent degree from a university recognized by the MCI (Medical Council of India) with a minimum of 55%, one complete year of rotating internship after completing MBBS and qualifying the entrance exam.
In some of the foreign universities other than holding an MBBS degree, it is also necessary to complete a residency in preventative medicine.
Entrance Exams for Preventative Medicine
NEET PG - NEET PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test- Post Graduate) is a national level exam conducted for students who have completed their MBBS or any degree with the same relevance and want to pursue MD and MS in any branch of medical science. The governing examination body is the National Board of Examination (NBE).
Examinations are held every year online computer-based. The selection of the candidate depends upon the cut-off marks or cut-off rank. Various colleges have different requirements for marks.
AIIMS PG - All India Institute of Medical Sciences Post Graduate Test (AIIMS-PG) is conducted by the AIIMS, Delhi for the aspiring candidates who have completed their MBBS and want to pursue MD, DM, MS, M.Ch, and MDS in any of the seven AIIMS college located in Delhi, Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal, Jodhpur, Rishikesh, Raipur and Patna. There are more than five-hundred seats in India. It is a computer-based online exam consisting of two-hundred questions which need to be solved in three hours.
PGIMER - Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh (PGIMER)provides courses in DM, M. Ch, MHA, Ph.D., House job, M.Sc, MD, MS.
JIPMER PG - Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research Post Graduate (JIPMER PG) is a national level entrance exam for admission in JIPMER College, Pondicherry for PG courses after completion of MBBS. It is held once in January and also in July. It offers nineteen MD and five MS courses.
COMEDK PG- Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka is an all India examination held for the medical institution in Karnataka.
Many foreign universities conduct their entrance exams and some of them take admission depending on the MBBS percentage.
College Predictors VIEW ALL
Scope of Preventative Medicine in India and Abroad
Preventative medicine is filled with growing possibilities worldwide. This field is majorly about research and development. Due to mutation in DNA and the growing advancement of science and technology, there is a rapid increase in chronic diseases. After completing MD many students opt for continuing their studies by pursuing a PhD or DM.
The professional career in Preventive and Social Medicine includes health services, hospitals, research institutes and community health centres. The package varies between Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 1,00,000 which increases with an increase in the experience. Other than working in health care services many work as a research scientist, professors or they open their labs.
Course Fees Preventative Medicine
| Minimum Fees | Maximum Fees | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private | Government | Private | Government | |
| PG |
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Data not available
|
60.00 K
M.D. in Preventative Medicine at Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Medical College, Raipur
|
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Data not available
|
4.52 Lakhs
M.D. in Preventative Medicine at BJ Government Medical College, Pune
|
| DIPLOMA |
---
Data not available
|
1.83 Lakhs
Diploma in Preventative Medicine at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College, Sion, Mumbai
|
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Data not available
|
1.83 Lakhs
Diploma in Preventative Medicine at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College, Sion, Mumbai
|
Course Subjects
The four semesters of the entire course consist of various subjects who help in overall development in all spheres of Preventative medication. Some subjects might change depending upon the universities, but the basic structure remains the same.
1st Semester-
General medicine in Public Health
Maternal and child rehabilitation
Public health administration
2nd Semester-
Health education
Occupational health
Public health chemistry
Vital statistics
Communicable and non-communicable
3rd Semester-
Industrial toxicology and occupational physiology
Entomology
Parasitological study
Public health lab practices
Environmental health
4th Semester-
Biostatics
Nutrition
Epidemiological Techniques
Research Methodology
Demographic Techniques
Careers in Preventative Medicine
Preventative medicine is the growing field of research and has a vast career opportunity. The job options are growing all across the globe. As we all know prevention is better than cure, preventative medication suggests easy ways like a balanced diet, proper exercise, etc. for well-being. Preventative medication is spreading its roots and expanding. Nowadays, everyone is opting for the safer and the most convenient ways to get rid of the disease and hence what can be better than preventing it.
Other than the mainstream MD in Dermatology, Endocrinology etc. people are not switching their path to the lesser-known branches. The main reason for this switch is, first of all, less competition among candidates, secondly, very little research has been conducted in this field and thus giving more opportunities to learn, know and develop new things.
The salary is also pretty good with steady growth in the future without getting stuck.
Upcoming trends
Preventative medicine is growing and undergoing a positive transformation. The shift is major because of the rising concern among people. The advancement of science and technology has made our lifestyle unhealthy. Six in every ten people suffer from lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes, allergies and asthma. Thousands of people die every day because of these man-made lifestyle diseases. The awareness among the public has now increased and so does the demand for preventative medicine. Along with Industrial Technology (IT) and preventative medicine has also developed apps to improve healthcare services. Preventative medicine is clinical and non-clinical. Clinical includes meeting the physician or a health expert. They provide proper medication for the diseases, whereas the non-clinical comprises practising proper lifestyle patterns like exercise, diet. Generally, the physicians who deal with non-clinical preventative medicine change their approach and the way of work depending upon the patient. Public health speciality works on the larger good that is of the community. There are many jobs offered in this branch of medical science.
Job Profiles and Top Recruiters
Job profile for Preventative Medicine Holder
After completing MD in Preventative Medicine there is a wide range of job opportunities all across the world. Placement and recruitment of the students depend upon the University. This field of medical healthcare is new and less researched. The fact is undeniable that preventative medicine will attract the most attention in the coming years.
Job | Job description |
Health Specialist | A health specialist helps to improve the health of an individual or a community as a whole. They provide the required information to the people regarding the various diseases and prevention from them. |
Professor | Teaching in a university helps to promote research among student and provide them with knowledge of preventative medicine. |
Epidemiologist | An epidemiologist researches different diseases. They use their expertise and suggest various ways of treatment and how to prevent it. |
National consultant | National consultants propose various ways of prevention and its treatment. They aim to provide quality treatment. |
Junior Research Scientist | The job of a Junior research scientist is to study the disease and publish various reports, articles etc. They also help the administration by assisting them. |
Technical assistant | The role of a technical assistant is to perceive and detect a patient's condition, they also help in clinical duties and prevention of the disease. |
Preventative Medicine Top Recruiters
Heylth
Ozanera
ICAM Wellcare
NISG (National Institute of Smart Government)
NeGD
National Health Mission
Average Salary
Before opting for Preventative medicine, it is important to have a complete overview of the salary that they might earn after completion of the course. The annual package varies depending upon the company and the position hired.
After investing in the fees, a student needs to know how much return they will get. A few students also apply for a study loan hence to repay it they must know how much they can earn.
Job | Annual income |
Health Specialist | Rs. 3 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) to 6.5 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Professor | Rs 4 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) to 8 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Epidemiologist | Rs 4 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) to 15 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
National consultant | Rs 4 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) to 10 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Junior Research Scientist | Rs 3 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) to 7 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Technical assistant | Rs 3 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) to 9 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
NOTE: This is the estimate per annum income, the actual income may vary.
Required Skillset for Preventative Medicine
A candidate needs to know what the required skills are to become a Preventative medicine candidate physician so that they can make the right decision and choose their career path wisely. By knowing about the skills, the profession demands the candidate can focus and improve his weak qualities. These skills will help them in their interview as well as while treating their patients.
Compassion- The physician has to be compassionate towards the patient and make them comfortable so that they can share their problems freely.
Observant- Being observant is important so that the physician or a researcher can note even the smallest detail.
Communication and leadership skills- A proper way of communication is essential so that the candidate can adequately voice their opinion as well they can easily communicate with the patient in an efficient way.
Problem-solving skills- As the candidates will deal with health care, they need to detect the potential health risk and ways to minimize it.
Course Curriculum for Preventative Medicine
There is a specialized design curriculum for Preventative Medicine so that it fulfils the current requirement. The curriculum is a mixture of subjects like public health, environment, and techniques. It overall covers various topics, which might not seem significant as first but helps the physician in the long run. The main emphasis is given on
- Environmental Health
- Clinical Preventive Services
- Behavioral Aspects of Health
- Health Services Management and Administration
- Risk/Hazard Control and Communication
Popular Preventative Medicine Entrance Exams in India
NEET PG
Exam Date: 15 Jun, 2025 (Tentative)
Popular Preventative Medicine Colleges in India VIEW ALL
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YSRUHS Vijayawada
- Fees: ₹ 70500
- Exams: NEET PG
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: What do we learn in a Preventative medicine course?
Answer :
Preventative medicine courses are about public wellness and preventive courses. The course is designed to get extra knowledge on diagnostic and prevention of diseases. It also teaches about three levels of prevention- Primary, secondary and tertiary.
Question: Which college is the best to pursue Preventative medicine in India?
Answer :
There are various colleges in India.
Question: What is the role of Preventative medicine in society?
Answer :
Preventative medicine helps in controlling disease whether communicable or non-communicable so that it doesn’t affect the people. For eg, if there would have been preventative medicine for CoronaVirus then this disease wouldn’t have been as widely spread.
Question: What is better among being a physician, scientist or a professor?
Answer :
Selecting what will be better among the three depends upon an individual’s choice and skills they have. If you have an analytical brain you can opt as a research scientist if you think you are good at communication and can make anyone understand easily then teaching might be the right profession for you and if you think you are compassionate then you can continue as a physician.
Question: Will it be safe to choose Preventive medicine over other well-established courses?
Answer :
Preventive medicine is growing rapidly all across the globe. It has more upcoming opportunities. Though the established courses are well recognized now all of them are getting saturated thus opening doors for new possibilities.
