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

MD Pulmonary Medicine or Doctor of Medicine in Pulmonary Medicine also known as MD in Pulmonary 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 prevention, diagnosis, and management of the disease related to the respiratory system.

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 the Rama Medical College and Hospital (Kanpur) and Rama Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Hapur.

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 (Pulmonary Medicine) varies from college to college. The average course fee is around Rs. 13.50 Lakhs.

After completion of their respective course, doctors can either join the job market or pursue a super-specialization course where MD Pulmonary Medicine is a feeder qualification. Candidates can take reputed jobs as Senior residents, Junior Consultants, etc. with an approximate salary range of Rs. 10 lakh – Rs. 23 lakh per annum.

What is MD in Pulmonary Medicine?

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

Pulmonary Medicine is the branch of medical science dealing with the diseases involving the respiratory tract.

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

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

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

• 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).

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

• 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 Pulmonary Medicine. Candidates can view the complete admission process for MD in Pulmonary Medicine mentioned below:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 Pulmonary 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 Pulmonary Medicine is Rs. 13.50 Lakhs.

Colleges offering MD in Pulmonary Medicine

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

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

Stipend MD Pulmonary Medicine

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

Syllabus

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

The course content for MD in Pulmonary 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 Pulmonary Medicine

The student should acquire knowledge in the following:

I. Basic Sciences

A. Anatomy and Histology of Respiratory System

1. Development and Anatomy of Respiratory System

2. Applied embryology of lungs, mediastinum and diaphragm

3. Developmental anomalies

B. Physiology and Biochemistry

1. Assessment of pulmonary functions

2. Control of ventilation; pulmonary mechanics

3. Ventilation, pulmonary blood flow, gas exchange and transport

4. Non-respiratory metabolic functions of lung

5. Principles of electrocardiography

6. Inhalation kinetics and its implication in aerosol therapy, and sputum induction etc.

7. Acid-base and electrolyte balance

8. Physiology of sleep and its disorders

9. Pulmonary innervation and reflexes

10. Pulmonary defence mechanisms

11. Principles of exercise physiology and testing

12. Physiological changes in pregnancy, high altitude, aging

13. Physiological basis of pulmonary symptoms

C. Microbiology

1. Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other mycobacteria

2. Bacteria causing pulmonary diseases

3. Atypical organisms and respiratory tract infections

4. Anaerobes in pleuropulmonary infections

5. Laboratory diagnosis of non-tubercular infections of respiratory tract

6. Laboratory diagnosis of TB including staining, culture and drug sensitivity testing

7. Virulence and pathogenecity of mycobacteria

8. Respiratory viruses: Viral diseases of the respiratory system and diagnostic methods

9. Respiratory fungi: (i) Classification of fungal diseases of lung: candidiasis, Actinomycosis, Nacardiosis, Aspergillosis, Blastomycosis etc. (ii) Laboratory diagnostic procedures in pulmonary mycosis

10. Opportunistic infections in the immuno-ompromised individuals

11. HIV and AIDS. Virological aspects, immuno-pathogenesis, diagnosis

12. Parasitic lung diseases

D. Pathology

1. Acute and chronic inflammation: Pathogenetic mechanisms in pulmonary diseases

2. Pathology aspects of Tuberculosis

3. Pathology aspects of Pneumonias and bronchopulmonary suppuration

4. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema, asthma, other airway diseases

5. Occupational lung diseases including Pneumoconiosis

6. Interstitial lung diseases including sarcoidosis, connective tissue diseases, pulmonary vasculitis syndromes, pulmonary eosinphilias

7. Tumours of the lung, mediastinum and pleura

E. Epidemiology

1. Epidemiological terms and their definitions

2. Epidemiological methods

3. Epidemiology of tuberculosis, pneumoconiosis, asthma, lung cancer, COPD and other pulmonary diseases

4. National Tuberculosis Control Programme and RNTCP; Epidemiological aspects of BCG

5. Epidemiological aspects of pollution-related pulmonary diseases

6. Research methodology, statistics and study designs

F. Allergy and Immunology

1. Various mechanisms of hypersensitivity reactions seen in pulmonary diseases

2. Diagnostic tests in allergic diseases of lung - in vitro and in vivo tests, bronchial provocation test

3. Immunology of tuberculosis, Sarcoidosis and other diseases with an immunological basis of pathogenesis

G. Pharmacology

1. Pharmacology of antimicrobial drugs

2. Pharmacology of antitubercular drugs

3. Pharmacology of antineoplastic and immunosuppressant drugs

4. Bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory drugs used in pulmonary diseases

5. Drugs used in viral, fungal and parasitic infections

6. Other drugs pharmacokinetics and drugs interaction of commonly used drugs in pulmonary diseases

7. Pharmacovigilance

II. Clinical Pulmonary Medicine

Clinical pulmonary medicine covers the entire range of pulmonary diseases. All aspects of pulmonary diseases including epidemiology, aetiopathogenesis, pathology, clinical features, investigations, differential diagnosis and management are to be covered.

A. Infections

1. Tuberculosis

1. Aetiopathogenesis

2. Diagnostic methods

3. Differential diagnosis

4. Management of pulmonary tuberculosis; RNTCP, DOTS, and DOTS-Plus; International Standards of TB Care

5. Complications in tuberculosis

6. Tuberculosis in children

7. Geriatric tuberculosis

8. Pleural and pericardial effusion and empyema

9. Mycobacteria other than tuberculosis

10. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis

11. HIV and TB; interactions of antitubercular drugs with antiretrovirals

12. Diabetes mellitus and tuberculosis

13. Management of MDR and XDR tuberculosis

2. Non-tuberculous infections of the lungs

• Approach to a patient with pulmonary infection

• Community-acquired pneumonia

• Hospital-associated pneumonia, ventilator-associated pneumonia

• Unusual and atypical pneumonias including bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic and ricketsial, anerobic

• Bronchiectasis, lung abscess and other pulmonary suppurations

• Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and opportunistic infections in immuno-compromised host

• Principles governing use of antibiotics in pulmonary infections

• Other pneumonias and parasitic infections, Zoonosis

B. Non-infectious Lung Diseases

3. Immunological disorders

• Immune defence mechanisms of the lung

• Sarcoidosis

• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis and lung involvement

• Eosinophilic pneumonias and tropical eosinophilia

• Pulmonary vasculitides

• Connective tissue diseases involving the respiratory system

• Interstitial lung disease of other etiologies

• Reactions of the interstitial space to injury, drugs

• Occupational and environmental pulmonary diseases

4. Other non-infectious disorders of the lungs and airways

• Aspiration and inhalational (non-occupational) diseases of the lung

• Drug induced pulmonary diseases

• Bullous lung disease

• Uncommon pulmonary diseases (metabolic, immunological, unknown etiology), pulmonary haemorrhagic syndromes

• Other pulmonary diseases of unknown etiology including PLCH, LAM, PAP, alveolar microlithiasis

• Cystic fibrosis and disorders of ciliary motility

• Obesity-related pulmonary disorders

• Upper airways obstruction syndromes

• Occupational lung diseases and pneumoconiosis

• Air-pollution induced diseases, toxic lung and other inhalational injuries

• Health hazards of smoking

• Drug-induced lung diseases

5. Pulmonary Circulatory disorders

• Pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale

• Pulmonary edema

• Pulmonary thromboembolic diseases and infarction

• Cardiac problems in a pulmonary patient and pulmonary complications produced by cardiac diseases

6. Obstructive diseases of the lungs

• Asthma including allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, specific allergen immunotherapy and immunomodulation

• Chronic obstructive lung disease and diseases of small airways

• Special aspects of management including Long term oxygen therapy, Inhalation therapy and Pulmonary rehabilitation

7. Tumors of the lungs

• Comprehensive knowledge of neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases of lung including epidemiology, natural history, staging, and principles of treatment (medical, surgical, and radiation)

• Solitary pulmonary nodule

8. Diseases of the mediastinum

• Non-neoplastic disorders

• Benign and malignant (primary and secondary) neoplasms and cysts

9. Disorders of the pleura

• Pleural dynamics and effusions

• Non-neoplastic and neoplastic pleural diseases

• Pneumothorax

• Pyothorax and broncho-pleural fistula

• Fibrothorax

10. Critical Care Pulmonary Medicine

• Management of emergency problems of different pulmonary diseases

• Adult respiratory distress syndrome

• Respiratory failure in the patient with obstructive airway disease

• Respiratory failure in other pulmonary diseases

• Management of sepsis

• Respiratory and haemodynamic monitoring in acute respiratory failure

• Non-invasive and Mechanical ventilation

• Principles of critical care, diagnosis and management of complications; severity of illness scoring systems

• Ethical and end-of-life issues in critical care

11. Extrapulmonary manifestations of pulmonary diseases

12. Sleep-related pulmonary diseases

• Polysomnography

• Sleep apneas

• Other sleep-disordered breathing syndromes

13. Miscellaneous aspects

• Diseases of the diaphragm

• Disorders of chest wall

• Obesity-related pulmonary disorders

• Oxygen therapy

• End-of-life care

• Aerospace Medicine

• Pulmonary problems related to special environments (high altitude, diving, miners)

• Assessment of quality of life using questionnaires

• Health impacts of global warming

14. Preventive Pulmonology

• Principles of smoking cessation and smoking cessation strategies

• Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation

• Preventive aspects of pulmonary diseases

• Vaccination in pulmonary diseases

III. Surgical aspects of Pulmonary Medicine

• Pre- and post-operative evaluation and management of thoracic surgical patients

• Chest trauma/trauma related lung dysfunction

• Lung transplantation

Career Options

After completing an MD in Pulmonary 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 Pulmonary Medicine, Junior Consultant, Senior Consultant Pulmonary Medicine, Consultant Pulmonary Medicine Specialist, etc.

Courses After MD in Pulmonary Medicine Course

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

DM Pulmonary Medicine, DM Cardiology, DM Infectious Disease, DM Critical Care Medicine are some of the courses that require an MD (Pulmonary Medicine) as a feeder qualification

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

Question: What is an MD in Pulmonary Medicine?

Answer: MD Pulmonary Medicine or also known as MD in Pulmonary 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 Pulmonary Medicine?

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

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

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

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

Answer: MD in Pulmonary Medicine offers a promising career as a pulmonologist, diagnosing and treating respiratory conditions. With the increasing prevalence of respiratory diseases, there is a growing demand for specialists in this field in both clinical and academic settings.

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

Answer: The MD in Pulmonary Medicine candidate's average salary is Rs. 10 lakh – Rs. 23 lakh per annum, depending on their experience. 

Question: Can I do DM cardiology after MD pulmonary medicine?

Answer: it's typically not possible to directly pursue a DM in Cardiology after completing an MD in Pulmonary Medicine, as they are distinct specialities. To become a cardiologist, you must complete a DM in Cardiology program after an MD in Internal Medicine or a related field.

Question: What is the scope of pulmonary medicine?

Answer: Pulmonology, or respiratory medicine, is a branch of medicine that diagnoses and treats lung issues like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung cancer, lung fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, etc.