Healthcare is one of the largest sectors in India, both in terms of employment and revenue generation. In 2024, the revenue from the healthcare segment is said to reach USD 543.80 million, while the projections further imply that the figure will expand to reach around USD 827.50 million by 2027 with a CAGR of 11.07%.
With the boom in the Indian healthcare industry, there will be abundant employment scopes in various medical fields. The job scopes will be in new and conventional roles. Most job aspirants seek the conventional way of becoming a doctor by clearing the MBBS examination. However, now there are a plethora of certification programmes in nursing, healthcare management, healthcare administration, and so on that candidates can pursue.
Let us take a look at some of the leading medical field courses that are in high demand with candidates in the medical arena.
List of The Best Courses in the Medical Field in India in 2024
If you want to pursue a career in medicine, you must check out the various healthcare courses. Interestingly, NEET qualification is no longer mandatory for medical courses; even non-qualified NEET candidates can also take various medical field courses.
Though MBBS and BDS are the most popular courses in medicine, there are other courses in paramedics, nursing, physiotherapy, ayurvedic medicine and surgery, homeopathy medicine, and many more, which are equally in demand.
Let us check out some of India’s best courses in the medical arena in 2024.
1. MBBS
One of the most commonly known and popular courses in the medical field is MBBS – Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery. This undergraduate degree spans 5.5 years, including one year of internship. The course programme includes para-clinical, pre-clinical and clinical subjects.
To pursue an MBBS course, you must have Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in your 12th standard. Students must clear the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) to get admission to an MBBS course. Post counselling, NEET candidates get admission to the top government MBBS colleges in the country.
Many deemed and private universities also offer MBBS courses, but they are expensive compared to government colleges. According to National Medical Commission reports, there are almost 99,763 seats in 595 medical colleges (government and private), 2 JIPMER and 15 AIIMS institutes.
After completion of the MBBS course, a candidate can take up a specialisation in their subject of interest and proceed with a Master’s course to start practicing.
2. Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS)
Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) is the best course in medical field if you have a knack for homeopathy. This is also an undergraduate medical course of 5.5 years duration. The BHMS programme is categorised under AYUSH courses.
On successful completion of the course, a candidate can start practising as a homeopathic doctor. To become eligible for pursuing a BHMS course, you must acquire a minimum of 40% in the 12th standard board examinations.
Eligible candidates need to appear and clear NEET to get admission to BHMS courses. General candidates need the 50th percentile to be eligible to pursue the course. Candidates can seek admission to some of the leading BHMS colleges in different parts of the country.
3. Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
Bachelor of Dental Surgery is one of the most popular medical field courses in India. This medical course lasts 5 years, including one year of rotatory internship. The course offers theoretical knowledge and practical training on dental surgery.
Similar to the MBBS course, candidates interested in pursuing the BDS course should have Physics, Chemistry and Biology as the core subjects in 12th standard. The NEET score decides whether the candidate is eligible for admission to the BDS course.
There are approximately 313 dental colleges in India with more than 26,000 BDS seats. Private colleges also offer this course to interested candidates.
4. Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT)
Physiotherapy has become an increasing need for people suffering from chronic conditions like pain, inflammation, immobility and so on. Patients reach out to physiotherapy service providers for treatment of an ailment or injury. There are estimates that the physiotherapy services market will reach USD 54.3 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 5.7% from 2022-2027, projecting its consistent growth and potential market for opportunities.
If you aim to become a physiotherapist, you must complete a degree course in Physiotherapy. The Bachelor of Physiotherapy course spans 4.5 years, including the internship spanning 6 months. In order to pursue the course, a candidate must have Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as the main subjects in their 10+2.
To get admission into the BPT course, candidates must clear an entrance examination. Some colleges check the NEET score for offering admission to the UG BPT course. However, the majority of the institutes have their own entrance tests.
5. Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS)
The Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) needs special mention among the diverse AYUSH courses. This UG-level medical course is of 5.5 years. Upon completing this course, the candidate can practice as an Ayurvedic doctor or physician. Practitioners can further pursue an M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) or M.S. (Master of Surgery) in Ayurveda to advance their careers.
The eligibility criteria for this course are similar to MBBS. In the 12th standard examination, the candidate must score at least 50% marks to be eligible to study Ayurvedic medicine. A candidate must clear the NEET examination to get admission to this course. AYUSH Admission Central Counselling Committee (AACCC) conducts the admission process for the BAMS course.
Apart from these courses, many healthcare courses are in high demand. These courses are usually associated with healthcare management and administration.
Let us browse through some of these courses:
6. Executive Post Graduate Program in Healthcare Management
upGrad offers an Executive Post Graduate Program in Healthcare Management under the Goa Institute of Management. This healthcare management course targets professionals looking to build a management-level career in the industry. The course proves to be useful for candidates who want to explore the world of healthcare, hospital administration, and hospital management.
Covering subjects like ethical and legal issues in healthcare, hospital planning and services, operations and material management, benchmarking in healthcare, and healthcare marketing, candidates can easily become a part of healthcare management.
The 11-month course has 300+ hours of learning with 40+ hours of live sessions. There are practical hands-on Capstone Projects, more than eight assignments, and case studies. Special mention must be made of the 24×7 student support available for candidates.
7. Executive Post-Graduate Programme in Healthcare Management
This is another of upGrad’s Executive Post-Graduate Programme in Healthcare Management with a prestigious certification from LIBA. With this course, you will become proficient in making a difference in various aspects of the healthcare industry, right from marketing to providing quality care.
The 11-month course has 300+ hours of learning, 30+ hours of live sessions and round-the-clock student support assistance. Designed specifically for working professionals, this course offers practical projects, Capstone projects, assignments, and case studies. The rigorous, cutting-edge curriculum will help you build a solid profile in the healthcare industry.
8. Executive Doctor of Business Administration in Healthcare Management
A Doctor in Business Administration (DBA) is the highest qualification in management. DBA is not offered in India, but it is globally accredited and recognised. upGrad offers an Executive Doctor of Business Administration in Healthcare Management in collaboration with the Swiss School of Business & Management, Geneva (SSBM).
The duration of this course is 36 months, opening up limitless avenues for research and international networking opportunities. This programme targets professionals looking to upscale and become a part of the senior management or C-suite executives.
International-standard, world-class faculties equip learners with in-demand skills, preparing candidates to take a massive leap in their careers in the healthcare industry.
Summing It Up
The demand for medical professionals in India is on the constant rise. Every year thousands of candidates pursue medical field courses along with healthcare courses to cater to varying requirements in the medical industry.
These courses are offered at government colleges and institutes as well as at private and deemed colleges and universities. Previously, NEET eligibility was mandatory for getting admission to the best course in the medical field. However, many private institutes do not need NEET clearance; they have their own entrance test.
While entry through NEET examinations is valued, you can establish a successful career by obtaining a headstart with upGrad and its wide catalog of in-demand courses!
You can also check out our free courses offered by upGrad in Management, Data Science, Machine Learning, Digital Marketing, and Technology. All of these courses have top-notch learning resources, weekly live lectures, industry assignments, and a certificate of course completion – all free of cost!
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