Doctor of Medicine (MD) Family Medicine: Admission, Fees, Medical Colleges, Eligibility Criteria details here

MD Family Medicine or Doctor of Medicine in Family Medicine, also known as MD in Family Medicine is a Postgraduate level course for doctors in India that is done by them after completion of their MBBS. The duration of this postgraduate course is 3 years, and it focuses on the study of various concepts related to the field of holistic well-being of each family member with emphasis on preventive diagnosis and treatment, including lifestyle modifications.

The course is a full-time course pursued at various recognized medical colleges across the country. Some of the top medical colleges offering this course include NRI Medical College (Guntur), Government Medical College, Kozhikode (Calicut), Christian Medical College (CMC Vellore), and more.

Admission to this course is done through the NEET PG Entrance exam conducted by the National Board of Examinations, followed by counseling based on the scores of the exam that is conducted by DGHS/MCC/State Authorities.

The fee for pursuing an MD in Family Medicine varies from college to college. The average course fee is Rs 20000 to Rs. 12 Lakh per year.

After completion of their respective course, doctors can either join the job market or pursue a super-specialization course where MD Family Medicine is a feeder qualification. Candidates can take reputed jobs as Senior residents, Junior Consultants, etc. with an approximate salary range of Rs. 4 lakh – Rs. 7 lakh per annum.

What is MD in Family Medicine?

Doctor of Medicine in Family Medicine, also known as MD (Family Medicine) is a three-year postgraduate programme that candidates can pursue after completing MBBS.

Family Medicine is the branch of medical science dealing with primary-care medicine that provides comprehensive health care to people regardless of age or sex and emphasizes the family unit.

National Medical Commission (NMC), the apex medical regulator, has released a Guidelines for Competency-Based Postgraduate Training Programme for MD in Family Medicine.

The Competency-Based Postgraduate Training Programme governs the education and training of MDs in Family Medicine.

The PG education intends to create specialists who can contribute to high-quality health care and advances in science through research and training.

The required training done by a postgraduate specialist in the field of Family Medicine would help the specialist recognize the community's health needs. The student should be competent to handle medical problems effectively and should be aware of the recent advances in their specialty.

The candidate should be a highly competent doctor possessing a broad range of skills that will enable her/him to practice Family Medicine independently. The PG candidate should also acquire the basic skills in teaching medical/para-medical students.

The candidate is also expected to know the principles of research methodology and modes of the consulting library. The candidate should regularly attend conferences, workshops, and CMEs to upgrade her/ his knowledge.

Course Highlights

Here are some of the course highlights of MD in Family Medicine:

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for MD in Family Medicine are defined as the set of rules or minimum prerequisites that aspirants must meet to be eligible for admission, which include:

1. Candidates must have an undergraduate MBBS degree from any college/university recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI).

2. Candidates should have done a compulsory rotating internship of one year in a teaching institution or other institution which is recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI).

3. The candidate must have obtained permanent registration of any State Medical Council to be eligible for admission.

4. The medical college's recognition cut-off dates for the MBBS Degree courses and compulsory rotatory Internship shall be as prescribed by the Medical Council of India (now NMC).

Admission Process

The admission process contains a few steps to be followed in order by the candidates for admission to MD in Family Medicine. Candidates can view the complete admission process for MD in Family Medicine mentioned below:

1. The NEET PG or National Eligibility Entrance Test for Post Graduate is a national-level master's level examination conducted by the NBE for admission to MD/MS/PG Diploma Courses.

2. The requirement of eligibility criteria for participation in counseling towards PG seat allotment conducted by the concerned counseling authority shall be instead of the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations (as per the latest amendment) notified by the MCI (now NMC) with prior approval of MoHFW.

3. The following Medical institutions are not covered under centralized admissions for MD/MS seats through NEET- PG:

1. AIIMS, New Delhi, and other AIIMS

2. PGIMER, Chandigarh

3. JIPMER, Puducherry

4. NIMHANS, Bengaluru

Fees Structure

The fee structure for MD in Family Medicine varies from college to college. The fee is generally less for Government Institutes and more for private institutes. The average fee structure for MD in Family Medicine is 20000 to Rs. 12 Lakh per year.

Colleges offering MD in Family Medicine

There are various medical colleges across India that offer courses for pursuing MD (Family Medicine).

As per National Medical Commission (NMC) website, the following medical colleges are offering MD (Family Medicine) courses for the academic year 2022-23.

Stipend MD Family Medicine

The stipend offered by various medical colleges in India for MD Family Medicine for the year 2022 is as follows:

Syllabus

An MD in Family Medicine is a three years specialization course that provides training in the stream of Family Medicine.

The course content for MD in Family Medicine is given in the Competency-Based Postgraduate Training Programme released by National Medical Commission, which can be assessed on the link below:

NMC Guidelines For Competency-Based Training Programme For MD Family Medicine

A family physician should possess the core content of knowledge, skills, and attitude which would enable him/her to address effectively all the problems of patients at the point of first contact. This highly individualized patient-centred approach is the hallmark of a Family Medicine specialist as opposed to a disease-centered approach of other specialists. Primary care is thus performed by a personal physician who also coordinates the care when required by referral to other specialists and health care professionals and follows up the patient as the physician whose aim is to keep the person healthy as the entry point for their health needs. In the existing Indian health care delivery system the Family Medicine specialist can function effectively at the Community Health or PHC where he/she can take up the role of multiple specialists and to enable early diagnosis and to make treatment cost effective.

During the training of the post graduate students in each rotation, the focus and emphasis should be on development of clinical skills, ability to make a correct clinical diagnosis, and to provide cost effective, and conservative management for the illnesses they encounter.

Course contents:

A: Applied Basic Science (as relevant to Family Medicine) Anatomy:

o Gross applied anatomy of the upper and lower limb, musculoskeletal system, brain, heart, lungs, abdominal and pelvic organs and embryology.

Physiology:

o Clinically relevant physiology of heart, lungs, endocrine, gastro-intestinal, genito-urinary, and CNS reproductive physiology

Biochemistry:

o Carbohydrate, lipid, protein, bone and renal metabolism

Pharmacology:

o Mode of action and therapeutic uses of drugs commonly used in clinical practice in common diseases.

Pathology/microbiology:

o Review of clinical pathology of common diseases relevant to Family Medicine and an understanding of the basis of common investigations.

Radiological and imaging:

o Interpretation of conventional X-rays, and ultrasound reports in making clinical decision making. The physician should have knowledge of the indications for CT scan and MRI scan in various clinical contexts, and be able to act on the reports furnished by the radiologist.

Electrocardiographic interpretation

o Understanding on the utility of treadmill and ECHO reports

2. Accident and Emergency medicine (Common emergencies including shock, acute respiratory distress, status epilepticus, acute myocardial infarction, trauma, poisonings, acute renal failure, spine injury, disaster management, triaging).

3. Surgical conditions: (diagnosis and treatment or stabilisation and referral of common surgical conditions including acute abdomen, burns, ulcers, superficial soft tissue trauma, abscess, wound and ulcer management, electrolyte and fluid requirements, blood transfusion, suture methods and materials, universal precautions. Cancer screening, disorders of thyroid, diseases of the breast; neck swellings, varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis, peripheral vascular disease; abdominal pain, dysphagia, nausea, vomiting, haematomesis and malena, peptic ulcer, GORD, gastritis, disorders of gall bladder and pancreas. intestinal obstruction, specific and non specific infections. Common cysts, swellings, sinuses, fistulae, abscess, ulcers and tumours. Lymphadenopathy. Hernia, inguino-scrotal swellings, hydrocoele, prostate diseases, renal and genitor-urinary tract disorders; anorectal disorders including fissure in ano, haemorrhoids, pilonidal sinus, phimosis, paraphimosis, ingrowing toe nail, diabetic foot.

4. Child health

o Care of newborn, growth and development, nutrition including protein energy malnutrition and obesity

o vitamin deficiency diseases

o immunization

o recognition and referral of common birth anomalies

o common childhood infections include measles, mumps, rubella, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, acute respiratory infections, tuberculosis, H. Influenza, hepatitis, meningitis, chicken pox, acute diarrhoeal diseases, cholera, food poisoning, worm infestations

o Bronchial asthma, congenital heart disease, rheumatic fever, hypothyroidism, nephritic syndrome, glomerulonephritis

o Behaviour disorders, mental retardation, learning disabilities, child abuse issues, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), genetic disorders, school health programme, breast feeding

o National Immunisation Programme

o Integrated Management of Childhood and Neonatal Illnesses

5. Adolescent Health

Puberty: male and female, adolescents and the law, behavioural problems/stress/psycho- social problems, nutrition and exercise.

6. Gender-specific and sexual health

Menopausal woman, reproductive and sexual health, domestic violence/gender-related health issues, erectile dysfunction, sexual abuse and rape.

7. Community Health

Aspects of community medicine relevant for Family Medicine

o Concept of health and disease, primary health care and its implementation, principles of epidemiology and epidemiological methods.

o Epidemiology of communicable diseases, hospital acquired infections, emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, epidemiology of chronic non-communicable diseases and conditions.

o Environment and health, basic principles of household waste management, sanitation, safety and availability of drinking water.

o Health care of the community, health services at centre, state and district levels National health programmes and policies

o Demography and family planning

o Health information and basic medical statistics, health education

o Principles of health education and methods

o Health planning and five year plans

o National Health insurance schemes and other private schemes

o School health programmes

o Management of epidemics and national disasters

o Role of NGOs

o Research in community medicine and interaction with other fields of medicine.

o Preventive medicine in Obstetrics, Paediatrics and Geriatrics, medical sociology, genetics and health, international health, public health aspects of disaster management.

o Hospital waste management.

8. Maternal and Women's Health

o Physiological changes in pregnancy, antenatal care, normal labour and post natal care

o Common problems during pregnancy including hyperemesis gravidarum, urinary tract infections, low back ache

o Obstetric complications including hypertensive disorders, obstetric hemorrhage, anaemia in pregnancy, gestational diabetes, multiple pregnancy

o Antenatal care, preconception counselling, prenatal care, ectopic pregnancy, gestational trophoblastic diseases, abortion, teratology, medications during pregnancy, intrapartum assessment

o Medical termination of pregnancy

o Family planning

o Physiology of menstruation and its deviations

o Common problems in Gynaecology including genital tract infections

o Dysfunctional uterine bleeding

o Common disorders of uterus and ovary including fibroid uterus, genital prolapse, ovarian tumours, polycystic ovarian disease

o Sexually transmitted diseases including HIV, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis, trichomonas, candidiasis, human papilloma virus, herpes infection

o Genital tract malignancies

o Preventive oncology- screening and early diagnosis of genital tract malignancies

9. Otorhinolaryngology

o Anatomy of ear, nose and throat, recognition and first line management of common diseases of ear, nose and throat like acute and chronic otitis media, otalgia, rhinitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, foreign body, epistaxis, nasal polyps, vertigo, tinnitus, hoarseness of voice, stridor, deafness, ear wax, dysphagia,, snoring, allergic disorders, temporomandibular joint disorders, otitis externa, facial nerve paralysis, hearing loss, hearing assessment, tumours.

o Emergencies in ENT

10. Oral cavity and dental

o Oral hygiene, oral ulcers, gingivitis, stomatitis, premalignant lesions.

11. Ophthalmology:

o Common eye diseases including conjunctivitis, corneal ulcer, inflammatory disorders of eyelids, allergic conditions of eye, red eye, dry eye, painful eye, cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy

o Emergencies in eye including eye injuries

o National Programme for Prevention of Blindness, Vitamin A deficiency

o Refractive errors, indications, contraindications and advantages of contact lens and Intra Ocular Lenses (IOL)

o Ocular side effects of commonly used pharmacological agents.

12. Geriatrics:

o Common health problems and diseases in the old age & their management eg. vascular, musculosketetal, oncological, psychological, neurological, hearing and vision problems

o Special attention to nutrition, falls in elderly, incontinence, constipation, delirium, dementia, aches and pains, pruritus

o Drug therapy in elderly

o Rehabilitation, management of terminally ill patients

o Communication skills in bereavement, problems of the family after death

o Caregiver support, care of elderly, social and psychological problems in elderly, elderly abuse.

13. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation:

o Basics of rehabilitation and basic physiotherapy advice

o Role of Family Physician in management of patients with disabilities

o Bladder care

o Team concept in rehabilitation

o Management of the bed ridden patient; Bed sores

o Community based rehabilitation.

14. Pain and Palliative care

o Common symptoms in terminally ill patients and its management

o Management of pain, opioid analgesics, Co-analgesics, hospice care

o End of life care

o Management of grief

o Breaking bad news

15. Anaesthesia:

o Basic principles of local aneasthesia, regional anaesthesia, intravenous sedation, relaxants in anaesthesia, spinal anaesthesia, epidural anaesthesia, pre-anaesthetic health check up.

16. Medical Jurisprudence:

o Knowledge of health legislation and duties of doctor attending to cases

o Knowledge of medical ethics and principles of good practice

o Medical negligence

o Medical certificates

o Examination of injury cases and its medico-legal importance

o Legal certification and documentation.

B. Common diseases in the community

The student should be able demonstrate theoretical competencies in order to deliver appropriate health care in a Family Practice setting for all age groups in the following types of common illnesses.

1. Infections ((Tropical diseases and common infections including viral, bacterial rickettsial, mycobacterial, malaria, filariasis, rabies, leptospirosis, dengue fever, enteric fever, hepatitis, poliomyelitis, meningitis, encephalitis, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, common fungal infections, skin infections, varicella, herpes zoster, rickettsia, Chikungunya fever newer emerging infections: avian influenza and Zika virus)

2. Cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, ischemic heart disease, rheumatic fever & rheumatic heart disease, cardiac failure, pulmonary edema, infective endocarditis, pericardial diseases, cerebrovascular disorders, peripheral vascular diseases, common cardiac arrhythmias, valvular heart disease, ischemic heart disease and common congenital heart diseases )

3. Common skin diseases (Prevention, diagnosis and management of common dermatological conditions including acne vulgaris, dermatitis, fungal infections, skin diseases due to bacterial infection, scabies, pediculosis, wart, corn, pityriasis rosea, lichen planus, psoriasis, H. zoster; principles of dermatological therapy; principles of rehabilitation of chronic dermatological patients; principle of diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted diseases, leprosy, skin disorders in diabetes, urticaria, hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation, photodermatitis, allergies, eczema's, nutritional skin disorders skin manifestations of systemic diseases and autoimmune disorders)

4 Gastro-intestinal diseases (Jaundice, hepatitis, cirrhosis of liver, portal hypertension, hepatic encephalopathy, hematemesis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer disease, non-ulcer dyspepsia, gastrointestinal bleeding, gastritis, dyspepsia, GORD, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, malabsorption syndromes, acute and chronic diarrhea, acute infectious diarrhoeal diseases, food poisoning, parasitology including amebiasis/ giardiasis/worm infestations, and investigations in gastro- intestinal diseases)

5 Neruological diseases (headache, memory loss, peripheral neuropathy, seizures, dizziness, vertigo, syncope, migraine, transient loss of consciousness, cerebro-vascular accidents, hemiparesis, hemiplegia, paraplegia, quadriparesis, strokes, Parkinsons' disease, neuropathies and myopathies)

6 Metabolic and endocrine diseases (Common endocrine diseases related to pancreas, thyroid, pituitary and adrenal gland, glucose metabolism, glucose tolerance test, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, iodine metabolism, thyroid function tests, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, metabolic syndrome, obesity, osteoporosis, Vitamin D deficiency and undernutrition

7 Substance abuse (alcohol, tobacco, drugs including performance enhancing drugs)

8 Poisoning (general emergency measures, poisoning caused by paracetamol, organo- phoshorous compounds, alcohol, kerosene, barbiturates, corrosives, insecticides, organophosphorus compounds, carbon monoxide, sedatives, phosphide, snakebite, scorpion sting and Cerebra Odollum)

9 Haematological diseases (Anemias, Iron deficiency, B12 and folic deficiency, polycythemia, and common disorders of RBC, WBC and platelets, coagulopathies, leukaemias, lymphomas)

10 Common cancers (cervical, breast, prostate, haematological, gastro-intestinal, head and neck, lung, cancer screening)

11 Orthopaedic and musculoskeletal diseases (inflammatory and degenerative arthritis, osteoporosis, common fractures, dislocations, osteomyelitis. Low back ache. Common bone and joint diseases, entrapment neuropathies and neuromuscular disorders including arthritis, cervical spondylosis, intervertebral disc prolapse, bursitis, ganglion, tenosynovitis, plantar fasciitis, carpel tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, osteomyelitis, degenerative disorders. Volkmans ischemia, bone tumours, fibromyalgia)

12 Common renal disorders (acute and chronic renal failure, glomerular and tubular renal pathologies, renal replacement therapy. Renal failure, hematuria, proteinuria, urinary tract infections, glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, genitourinary infections)

13 Common mental health problems (Common psychiatric problems and their management: depression, anxiety, somatization, substance abuse, medically unexplained symptoms, personality disorders, psychosis, delirium , suicide, grief, stress, eating disorders, behavioral disorders in children and adolescents, adjustment disorders, bipolar disorders, dementia, organic disorders presenting with psychiatric symptoms, basic principles of psychotherapy, rational use of psychotherapeutic medication)

14 Common genetic/hereditary diseases (Haemophilia, Haemoglobinopathies, Downs' syndrome, muscular dystrophy)

15 Common respiratory diseases (Diagnostic methods in pulmonary medicine, principles of the pulmonary function tests, approach to chest pain, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute and chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, atelectasis, bronchiectasis, allergic disorders, smoking cessation, occupational lung diseases, tuberculosis, bronchodilators and steroids in respiratory medicine, carcinoma lung, sleep apnoea, management of acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma and COPD, sarcoidosis, interstitial lung diseases, chronic cough)

Career Options

After completing an MD in Family Medicine, candidates will get employment opportunities in Government as well as in the Private sector.

In the Government sector, candidates have various options to choose from which include Registrar, Senior Resident, Demonstrator, Tutor, etc.

While in the Private sector the options include Resident Doctor, Consultant, Visiting Consultant (Family Medicine), Junior Consultant, Senior Consultant (Family Medicine), Critical Care Specialist, Consultant Family Medicine, Specialist, etc.

Courses After MD in Family Medicine Course

MD in Family Medicine is a specialization course that can be pursued after finishing MBBS. After pursuing a specialization in MD (Family Medicine), a candidate could also pursue super specialization courses recognized by NMC, MD (Family Medicine) is a feeder qualification.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) – MD in Family Medicine Course

Question: What is an MD in Family Medicine?

Answer: MD Family Medicine or also known as MD in Family Medicine is a Postgraduate level course for doctors in India that they do after completion of their MBBS.

Question: What is the duration of an MD in Family Medicine?

Answer: MD in Family Medicine is a postgraduate programme of three years.

Question: What is the eligibility of an MD in Family Medicine?

Answer: Candidates must be in possession of an undergraduate MBBS degree from any college/university recognized by the Medical Council of India.

Question: What is the scope of an MD in Family Medicine?

Answer: MD in Family Medicine offers candidates various employment opportunities and career prospects.

Question: What is the average salary for an MD in Family Medicine postgraduate candidate?

Answer: The MD in Family Medicine candidate's average salary is Rs. 4 lakh – Rs. 7 lakh per annum.

Question: Is family medicine same as community medicine?

Answer: "Family Medicine" and "community medicine" are two separate and distinct medical specialties as per the Post Graduate Regulation of MCI 2000. However, these two departments have been combined into one at newly established AIIMS institutions.