Medical M.Sc courses, should you join them? An eye-opener!
So you have done Bachelor’s degree in…
• Chemistry, Botany & Zoology,
• Biochemistry, Microbiology, biotechnology,
• Veterinary science, ayush or dental sciences
• Any other life sciences
• And now, for some strange reason, you want to undertake M.Sc in medical subjects.
What is medical M.Sc course?
• It is a 2-3 year post graduate course.
• Conducted mostly in medical colleges.
• The degree is awarded under the faculty of medicine by the health university.
• Some non-medical colleges & non-medical universities too offer them under the faculty of science.
• Subjects offered are:
• Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology
What is the duration of this course?
• UGC considers this as a two-year course.
• In most medical colleges, it is of 3 years.
• Irrespective of the specialization sought, the course is divided into two parts:
• Part 1: compulsory for all, one-year in Human Anatomy, Physiology & Biochemistry
• Part 2: two years of subject specialization
• The first part makes the degree “medical” and separates it from general M.Sc.
How to get admitted to these courses?
• Decide if you want to pursue in a medical or non-medical institution.
• Check if the course is of 2 or 3 years of duration.
• Some institutions hold entrance test, some based on B.Sc performance.
• Some offer this to people with specific specialization in Bachelor’s degree.
• Cross check with peers or seniors, do some background check and research on the Internet.
• Meet the counseling department (if exists).
Who governs medical M.Sc courses?
• Nobody!
• Medical Council of India has disowned it.
• UGC is clueless!
• It is left to the individual university and the affiliated colleges to run them as they wish.
• The duration, curriculum, and syllabus vary across the universities.
• Neither MoHFW nor HRD wants to address this anomaly.
• It’s a total chaos…. students are being taken for a ride.
Why was this course started?
• In the 1950s, doctors preferred clinical subjects for specialization after MBBS.
• There were no takers for pre-clinical (Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology) & para-clinical (Pharmacology, Microbiology) subjects.
• There was an acute shortage of teachers in these subjects.
• It was initially introduced for doctors; they didn’t take it.
• Mudaliyar Committee suggested it be offered to non-doctors with B.Sc in science background.
• The course is designed to be of 3 years in order to have basic concepts of the human body.
• Non-doctors were appointed as teachers in medical colleges.
What is the qualification of teaching faculty in these five subjects?
• In medical colleges, the teachers are doctors with MD in their respective subjects.
• They teach and train medical M.Sc students.
• They guide in research and dissertation.
• They train in diagnostic techniques and clinical applications.
• They set question papers, evaluate dissertation and assess students in theory and practical examination.
Why do medical colleges run these courses?
• Any medical college can start medical M.Sc course as it does not require MCI’s approval.
• Approval may be required only from the affiliating university, which is easy to obtain.
• There is no board or council to overlook the quality of education.
• Easy money (as fees) for colleges without any extra investment.
• PG students can be utilized as free-labour (diagnostic laboratory or MBBS practicals) under the excuse of training.
• Gullible & ignorant students keep joining these courses without undertaking basic research on their utility & career options.
What is the general curriculum for this course?
• The first year consists of Anatomy, Physiology & Biochemistry similar to that of Phase I of MBBS course
• One must pass the exam to enter the second part.
• The subsequent 2 years are for specialization; syllabus is same as that of MD courses in these subjects.
• Consist of Practicals, Dissertation, Seminars, Journal clubs, Case discussions, Laboratory postings, & Internal assessment exams.
• Final exam consisting of theory & practical examination (3 days) just as for MD courses.
• However, both the curriculum & syllabus vary across the universities.
What are the career scopes after pursuing this course?
Anatomy:
• Teaching in medical colleges
Biochemistry:
• Teaching in medical colleges, consultant in diagnostic laboratories, scientist in research institutions
Physiology:
• Teaching in medical colleges, scientist in research institutions
Pharmacology:
• Teaching in medical colleges, pharmaceutical companies, scientist in research institutions
Microbiology:
• Teaching in medical colleges, consultant in diagnostic laboratories, scientist in research institutions, pharmaceutical companies
Which industry hires candidates with medical M.Sc?
• Because degree holders are educated in medical subjects, they are unfit for non-medical areas.
• Since they learn what the doctors (in PG course) learn, their employment is in medical field only.
• Persons with medical M.Sc in Biochemistry & Microbiology can’t compete with general M.Sc candidates outside the medical field.
• Education empowers them to render their services as:
• teacher in medical colleges
• consultant in diagnostic laboratories
• scientist in research institutions
What is the current employment scenario?
• Persons with medical M.Sc degree in these 5 subjects are
• Unwanted as teachers in medical colleges; there is tremendous lobbying against medical M.Sc degree holders
• Denied role to work as consultant in diagnostic laboratories
• No or limited avenues for research
• So, what will you do with your degrees if you are disallowed to work in the area of your specialization?
• What’s the point of spending 3 years and lakhs of rupees just to be told you are ineligible or unqualified?
• What’s the worth of your degree?
Want to work as a teacher in medical college?
• You will have to start career as tutor/demonstrator (a non-teaching post) even with a Postgraduate degree.
• The department may or may not assign you any teaching job; you may be asked to handle only MBBS practical classes.
• This job may not be permanent; may be offered on a contractual basis.
• After three years as tutors, you are eligible to be promoted as Assistant Professor even if you don’t have Ph.D.
• Most colleges will neither hike your pay nor promote you.
• No guarantee of promotion even if you obtain Ph.D.
• Salary will always be lesser than that of doctors for the same post.
• The competition for jobs is so high that doctors with MD now take up tutor posts.
• Many new job advertisements don’t mention or entertain Medical M.Sc degree holders even for the tutor posts.
• Some doctors relentlessly pursue negative propaganda against medical M.Sc degree & lobby with college, university, MCI and health ministry.
• You may be treated as a “second-class citizen” at your place of work & have to live with loss of dignity and respect.
• If you have good skills, you could be exploited without giving you any credits.
• Although you are a Biomedical Scientist, you will always be called a “non-medico” by all & sundry.
• You can’t set question paper, evaluate answer scripts or be an examiner for MBBS practical examination.
• Although permitted by the MCI, there is lobbying by the doctors at every level of the University to deny roles in the examination process.
• It is considered humiliating to be guided by a non-doctor for MD dissertation.
• You can’t be an examiner for your own degree (medical M.Sc) examination.
• Without Ph.D, you can’t expect any self-respect, no matter how you good your knowledge & expertise are.
• There are very few opportunities to pursue Ph.D while in-service.
• Your employer may not cooperate, may not offer resources, salary, leaves or depute you for Ph.D.
• Despite possessing Ph.D, promotion and salary hikes may be denied on flimsy grounds.
• Despite having Ph.D, severe efforts would be made to deny roles in the MBBS examination.
• You can never become an MD examiner.
• Non-medicos are banned from becoming HODs, Deans or Principals.
• Since non-medicos are perceived as “outsiders”, they are constantly scrutinized and forced to prove themselves on a daily basis.
• Even a gold medallist in medical M.Sc is no match for a MD, who might have taken several attempts just to pass.
• Because doctors “own” the system, all their shortcomings are naturally ignored or overlooked.
• This is the reason why MCI hasn’t been able to raise the standards of medical education in five decades.
• Some colleges don’t promote non-medical teachers beyond the post of Associate Professor despite possessing requisite eligibility.
Want to work in diagnostic laboratories?
• There is tremendous lobbying by doctors at all levels to keep non-doctors from working as consultants in the diagnostic laboratories.
• Doctors want to establish a monopoly by denying eligibility of others citing vague laws or deliberately misinterpreting them.
• If you don’t have “clinical exposure” you are not eligible to interpret laboratory test reports.
• Since you don’t have MBBS degree & not registered in central or state medical councils, you are not eligible to practice in the laboratory.
• Even with Ph.D, you are only as good as a technician even if you have studied the same what the MD holders have.
Want to work in diagnostic laboratories?
• You can’t sign the laboratory test report because they wrongly consider it as a medical report.
• Your laboratory report must be counter-signed by a doctor who may not have any specialization.
• You might have set up the lab, established SOPs and set quality control protocols, but you can never be considered as a consultant.
• Reports signed by you are dangerous to the lives of patients.
• Since you are not registered in any council, you are unaccountable.
• You are simply a worthless person who knows nothing and can’t be trusted.
Want to be a scientist in research institutions?
• There are very few central or state research institutions in India.
• Whenever the field is “medical”, the first preference is always doctors.
• A person with MBBS, M.D is anytime superior to medical M.Sc with Ph.D.
• You are low in the ranking of preferences for appointment as scientists.
• Your wage will always be lesser than doctors for the same designation.
• You will have to compete with doctors and reservation quota for scientist’s job.
• Despite having “medical” degree, you will be considered along with general M.Sc as a “non-medical” candidate.
• You can never rise to the top levels in any organization you may work.
What is your worth in the medical field?
• Since you are not a doctor, you are assumed to be stupid & ignorant.
• Since you lack “clinical exposure” you are no good at anything medical.
• All your academic training are of doubtful value. Your Ph.D is fake and manipulated.
• Doctors set your syllabus, train you, enskill you, guide you, & assess you; they also belittle and discredit your degree.
• In your field, you can NEVER reach the top because it comes in direct conflict with doctors, which they can never tolerate.
• You will always remain subservient & subordinate to the doctors.
• If you are good in your trade, you will be perceived as a threat.
• Since you are a "scientist", you would be taunted of your academic degree and asked to display cutting-edge research results and patents.
So, will you take up this course?
• Sure, why not?
• Who needs dignity, self-respect, and growth if one has medical M.Sc degree?
• If the above means nothing to you, go ahead and take a plunge.
• Don’t lament later that you were not warned.
• Best wishes to you.
Want to share this as a PDF document? Here you go: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1nDgP3YPilBUDbxWSB80Gw0nhuPpe22bZ
So you have done Bachelor’s degree in…
• Chemistry, Botany & Zoology,
• Biochemistry, Microbiology, biotechnology,
• Veterinary science, ayush or dental sciences
• Any other life sciences
• And now, for some strange reason, you want to undertake M.Sc in medical subjects.
What is medical M.Sc course?
• It is a 2-3 year post graduate course.
• Conducted mostly in medical colleges.
• The degree is awarded under the faculty of medicine by the health university.
• Some non-medical colleges & non-medical universities too offer them under the faculty of science.
• Subjects offered are:
• Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology
What is the duration of this course?
• UGC considers this as a two-year course.
• In most medical colleges, it is of 3 years.
• Irrespective of the specialization sought, the course is divided into two parts:
• Part 1: compulsory for all, one-year in Human Anatomy, Physiology & Biochemistry
• Part 2: two years of subject specialization
• The first part makes the degree “medical” and separates it from general M.Sc.
How to get admitted to these courses?
• Decide if you want to pursue in a medical or non-medical institution.
• Check if the course is of 2 or 3 years of duration.
• Some institutions hold entrance test, some based on B.Sc performance.
• Some offer this to people with specific specialization in Bachelor’s degree.
• Cross check with peers or seniors, do some background check and research on the Internet.
• Meet the counseling department (if exists).
Who governs medical M.Sc courses?
• Nobody!
• Medical Council of India has disowned it.
• UGC is clueless!
• It is left to the individual university and the affiliated colleges to run them as they wish.
• The duration, curriculum, and syllabus vary across the universities.
• Neither MoHFW nor HRD wants to address this anomaly.
• It’s a total chaos…. students are being taken for a ride.
Why was this course started?
• In the 1950s, doctors preferred clinical subjects for specialization after MBBS.
• There were no takers for pre-clinical (Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology) & para-clinical (Pharmacology, Microbiology) subjects.
• There was an acute shortage of teachers in these subjects.
• It was initially introduced for doctors; they didn’t take it.
• Mudaliyar Committee suggested it be offered to non-doctors with B.Sc in science background.
• The course is designed to be of 3 years in order to have basic concepts of the human body.
• Non-doctors were appointed as teachers in medical colleges.
What is the qualification of teaching faculty in these five subjects?
• In medical colleges, the teachers are doctors with MD in their respective subjects.
• They teach and train medical M.Sc students.
• They guide in research and dissertation.
• They train in diagnostic techniques and clinical applications.
• They set question papers, evaluate dissertation and assess students in theory and practical examination.
Why do medical colleges run these courses?
• Any medical college can start medical M.Sc course as it does not require MCI’s approval.
• Approval may be required only from the affiliating university, which is easy to obtain.
• There is no board or council to overlook the quality of education.
• Easy money (as fees) for colleges without any extra investment.
• PG students can be utilized as free-labour (diagnostic laboratory or MBBS practicals) under the excuse of training.
• Gullible & ignorant students keep joining these courses without undertaking basic research on their utility & career options.
What is the general curriculum for this course?
• The first year consists of Anatomy, Physiology & Biochemistry similar to that of Phase I of MBBS course
• One must pass the exam to enter the second part.
• The subsequent 2 years are for specialization; syllabus is same as that of MD courses in these subjects.
• Consist of Practicals, Dissertation, Seminars, Journal clubs, Case discussions, Laboratory postings, & Internal assessment exams.
• Final exam consisting of theory & practical examination (3 days) just as for MD courses.
• However, both the curriculum & syllabus vary across the universities.
What are the career scopes after pursuing this course?
Anatomy:
• Teaching in medical colleges
Biochemistry:
• Teaching in medical colleges, consultant in diagnostic laboratories, scientist in research institutions
Physiology:
• Teaching in medical colleges, scientist in research institutions
Pharmacology:
• Teaching in medical colleges, pharmaceutical companies, scientist in research institutions
Microbiology:
• Teaching in medical colleges, consultant in diagnostic laboratories, scientist in research institutions, pharmaceutical companies
Which industry hires candidates with medical M.Sc?
• Because degree holders are educated in medical subjects, they are unfit for non-medical areas.
• Since they learn what the doctors (in PG course) learn, their employment is in medical field only.
• Persons with medical M.Sc in Biochemistry & Microbiology can’t compete with general M.Sc candidates outside the medical field.
• Education empowers them to render their services as:
• teacher in medical colleges
• consultant in diagnostic laboratories
• scientist in research institutions
What is the current employment scenario?
• Persons with medical M.Sc degree in these 5 subjects are
• Unwanted as teachers in medical colleges; there is tremendous lobbying against medical M.Sc degree holders
• Denied role to work as consultant in diagnostic laboratories
• No or limited avenues for research
• So, what will you do with your degrees if you are disallowed to work in the area of your specialization?
• What’s the point of spending 3 years and lakhs of rupees just to be told you are ineligible or unqualified?
• What’s the worth of your degree?
Want to work as a teacher in medical college?
• You will have to start career as tutor/demonstrator (a non-teaching post) even with a Postgraduate degree.
• The department may or may not assign you any teaching job; you may be asked to handle only MBBS practical classes.
• This job may not be permanent; may be offered on a contractual basis.
• After three years as tutors, you are eligible to be promoted as Assistant Professor even if you don’t have Ph.D.
• Most colleges will neither hike your pay nor promote you.
• No guarantee of promotion even if you obtain Ph.D.
• Salary will always be lesser than that of doctors for the same post.
• The competition for jobs is so high that doctors with MD now take up tutor posts.
• Many new job advertisements don’t mention or entertain Medical M.Sc degree holders even for the tutor posts.
• Some doctors relentlessly pursue negative propaganda against medical M.Sc degree & lobby with college, university, MCI and health ministry.
• You may be treated as a “second-class citizen” at your place of work & have to live with loss of dignity and respect.
• If you have good skills, you could be exploited without giving you any credits.
• Although you are a Biomedical Scientist, you will always be called a “non-medico” by all & sundry.
• You can’t set question paper, evaluate answer scripts or be an examiner for MBBS practical examination.
• Although permitted by the MCI, there is lobbying by the doctors at every level of the University to deny roles in the examination process.
• It is considered humiliating to be guided by a non-doctor for MD dissertation.
• You can’t be an examiner for your own degree (medical M.Sc) examination.
• Without Ph.D, you can’t expect any self-respect, no matter how you good your knowledge & expertise are.
• There are very few opportunities to pursue Ph.D while in-service.
• Your employer may not cooperate, may not offer resources, salary, leaves or depute you for Ph.D.
• Despite possessing Ph.D, promotion and salary hikes may be denied on flimsy grounds.
• Despite having Ph.D, severe efforts would be made to deny roles in the MBBS examination.
• You can never become an MD examiner.
• Non-medicos are banned from becoming HODs, Deans or Principals.
• Since non-medicos are perceived as “outsiders”, they are constantly scrutinized and forced to prove themselves on a daily basis.
• Even a gold medallist in medical M.Sc is no match for a MD, who might have taken several attempts just to pass.
• Because doctors “own” the system, all their shortcomings are naturally ignored or overlooked.
• This is the reason why MCI hasn’t been able to raise the standards of medical education in five decades.
• Some colleges don’t promote non-medical teachers beyond the post of Associate Professor despite possessing requisite eligibility.
Want to work in diagnostic laboratories?
• There is tremendous lobbying by doctors at all levels to keep non-doctors from working as consultants in the diagnostic laboratories.
• Doctors want to establish a monopoly by denying eligibility of others citing vague laws or deliberately misinterpreting them.
• If you don’t have “clinical exposure” you are not eligible to interpret laboratory test reports.
• Since you don’t have MBBS degree & not registered in central or state medical councils, you are not eligible to practice in the laboratory.
• Even with Ph.D, you are only as good as a technician even if you have studied the same what the MD holders have.
Want to work in diagnostic laboratories?
• You can’t sign the laboratory test report because they wrongly consider it as a medical report.
• Your laboratory report must be counter-signed by a doctor who may not have any specialization.
• You might have set up the lab, established SOPs and set quality control protocols, but you can never be considered as a consultant.
• Reports signed by you are dangerous to the lives of patients.
• Since you are not registered in any council, you are unaccountable.
• You are simply a worthless person who knows nothing and can’t be trusted.
Want to be a scientist in research institutions?
• There are very few central or state research institutions in India.
• Whenever the field is “medical”, the first preference is always doctors.
• A person with MBBS, M.D is anytime superior to medical M.Sc with Ph.D.
• You are low in the ranking of preferences for appointment as scientists.
• Your wage will always be lesser than doctors for the same designation.
• You will have to compete with doctors and reservation quota for scientist’s job.
• Despite having “medical” degree, you will be considered along with general M.Sc as a “non-medical” candidate.
• You can never rise to the top levels in any organization you may work.
What is your worth in the medical field?
• Since you are not a doctor, you are assumed to be stupid & ignorant.
• Since you lack “clinical exposure” you are no good at anything medical.
• All your academic training are of doubtful value. Your Ph.D is fake and manipulated.
• Doctors set your syllabus, train you, enskill you, guide you, & assess you; they also belittle and discredit your degree.
• In your field, you can NEVER reach the top because it comes in direct conflict with doctors, which they can never tolerate.
• You will always remain subservient & subordinate to the doctors.
• If you are good in your trade, you will be perceived as a threat.
• Since you are a "scientist", you would be taunted of your academic degree and asked to display cutting-edge research results and patents.
So, will you take up this course?
• Sure, why not?
• Who needs dignity, self-respect, and growth if one has medical M.Sc degree?
• If the above means nothing to you, go ahead and take a plunge.
• Don’t lament later that you were not warned.
• Best wishes to you.
Want to share this as a PDF document? Here you go: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1nDgP3YPilBUDbxWSB80Gw0nhuPpe22bZ
4 comments:
Why so negativity in the whole article.. ? And some of the things u mention may be there at only few working places only.. Not eveeywhere.And what is this - You can never become an MD examiner.. !! Why would u become examiner of a course which u have not yourself done. Strange to even ask for it. And then u say that M.Sc doesnt get promotions.. Its wrong. They get as per MCI. Again there may be few colleges where that may not be the case but u cant generalize it. And then u say salary is always less than MD doctors... Its true.. And it should be also. How can u equate the time of study spent in acquiring degrees.. 5 yrs for BSc n MSc whereas 8.5 yrs for MD.. So why crib..? And Ph.D is in any case not a structured course. Overall many of the things in your article are falsely projected, inaccurate and unjust.
Gagan deep Chopra,
1. The negativity mentioned here are true and common occurrences in most places, justice is an aberration and seen only in few colleges.
2. If an MD Professor who has never undertaken Ph.D can be a Ph.D examiner, why not this? The role of an examiner is to assess the subject as an expert. As long as one is proficient in the subject, it should be fine.
3. Linking the salary with the time spent on education is illogical; salary must be set for the work done. The same salary should be given for the same work and designation (barring NPA).
4. Whether Ph.D is a structured course or not is irrelevant. Once it is considered as a qualification for eligibility, the matter is settled.
5. You need to wear the shoe to know where it pinches.
@Gagan deep chopra
Either you have less experience or you have no experience of holding a Medical MSc degree.. Either ways good for you!
100% true. We must tell our juniors, relatives and educate them about the fact.
I appreciate the efforts taken to write the facts about the course and the upcoming students future.
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