MD Pharmacology in India: Check out Admission process, Fees, Medical Colleges to apply, Eligibility Criteria

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 Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS, Tirupati), Andhra Medical College (Visakhapatnam), Maulana Azad Medical College(New Delhi), 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 (Pharmacology) varies from college to college. The average course fee is Rs. 32000 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 Pharmacology is a feeder qualification. Candidates can take reputed jobs in positions as Senior residents, Junior Consultants, Consultants, etc. with an approximate salary range of Rs. 1.5 lakh – Rs. 13 lakh per annum.

What is MD in Pharmacology?

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

Pharmacology is the branch of medical science dealing with how drugs act on biological systems and how the body responds to the drug.

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

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

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 Pharmacology 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 speciality.

The candidate should be a highly competent doctor possessing a broad range of skills that will enable her/him to practice Pharmacology 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 Pharmacology: 

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for MD in Pharmacology 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 Pharmacology. Candidates can view the complete admission process for MD in Pharmacology 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 Pharmacology 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 Pharmacology is Rs. 32000 to Rs. 12 Lakh per year.

Colleges offering MD in Pharmacology

Various medical colleges across India offer courses for pursuing an MD (Pharmacology).

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

Stipend MD Pharmacology

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

Syllabus

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

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

1. Basic and molecular pharmacology

2. Drug receptors and Pharmacodynamics

3. Pharmacokinetics (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion)

4. Biotransformation

5. Pharmacogenomics and Pharmacogenetics

6. Autonomic Pharmacology

7. Drugs acting on Smooth muscles

8. Clinical pharmacology

9. Drug development and Regulations

10. Clinical Pharmacokinetics

11. Drugs acting on Synaptic and Neuroeffector Junctional sites

12. Drugs acting on Central Nervous System (Sedative, Hypnotics, Antiepileptics, General Anesthetics, Local Anesthetics, Skeletal Muscle Relaxants,

Antipsychotic, Antidepressants, Drugs used in Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, opioid agonists and antagonists, Drugs of abuse)

13. Drugs modifying renal function

14. Drugs acting on cardiovascular system and haemostatic mechanisms (Antihypertensives, Antianginal, Antiarrhythmics, Drugs used in heart failure, Drugs used in Dyslipidemias, Fibrionolytics, Anticoagulants, Antiplatelets

15. Reproductive Pharmacology

16. Agents effecting calcification and bone turnover

17. Autacoids and related pharmacological agents (NSAIDs) and drugs used in Rheumatoid arthritis and Gout

18. Gastrointestinal drugs

19. Pharmacology of drugs affecting the respiratory system (drugs used in Bronchial Asthma and COPD)

20. Antimicrobial, antiparasitics, disinfectants, antiseptics

21. Chemotherapy of neoplastic disease

22. Antiviral drugs

23. Drugs used in Autoimmune disorder and Graft versus Host Disease)

24. Dermatological pharmacology

25. Ocular pharmacology

26. Use of drugs in pregnancy

27. Perinatal and Pediatric Pharmacology

28. Geriatric Pharmacology

29. Immunomodulators - immunosuppressants and immunostimulants

30. Pharmacology of drugs used in endocrine disorders (drugs used in diabetes mellitus, hypothalamic and pituitary hormones, thyroid and antithyroid drugs, adrenocorticid hormones and their antagonists, gonadal hormones and their inhibitors)

31. Drug delivery systems

32. Heavy metal poisoning

33. Non-metallic toxicants - air pollutants, pesticides etc.

34. Research methodology and biostatistics

35. Literature search.

36. Pharmacogenomics, Pharmacovigilance (ADR reporting), pharmacoeconomics (cost-effectiveness study) and pharmacoepidemiology

37. Over the counter drugs

38. Dietary supplements and herbal medicines

39. Pharmacometrics - methods of drug evaluation.

40. General screening and evaluation of:

• Analgesics, antipyretics, anticonvulsants, anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, antianxiety and antipsychotics, sedatives, muscle relaxants, antihypertensives, hypocholesterolaemic agents, anti- arrhythmics, diuretics, adrenergic blocking drugs

• Drugs used in peptic ulcer diseases/Prokinetic agents/ antiemetics

• Antitussives, /anti-asthma agents

• Local Anaesthetics

• Oxytocics, antifertility agents

• Antidiabetics

Behavioral pharmacology models and evaluation of drugs affecting learning and memory

41. Bioassays

• Bioassay methods

• Animal experiments: Ethical considerations, ethical approval, applicable regulatory Guidelines (CPCSEA), humane animal research (principles of 3Rs) and alternatives to animal experimentation. General and statistical considerations

• Anesthetics used in laboratory animals

• Principles of EC50, ED50, pD2 and pA2 values of drugs

• Describe methods of bioassay for estimation of :

Acetylcholine, skeletal neuromuscular junction blockers, adrenaline, noradrenaline, histamine, 5 HT, hormones, insulin, vasopressin/oxytocin, estrogen, progestins, ACTH

• Competitive antagonism - pA2 values

• Immunoassays: Concept, types of bioassays and their application/s

• Animal experiments: Ethical consideration, ethical approval

• Regulatory Guidelines (CPCSEA) and alternatives to animal experimentation

42. Biochemical Pharmacology

• Basic principles and applications of simple analytical methods

• Principles of quantitative estimation of drugs, endogenous compounds and poisons using Colorimetry, Spectrophotometry, flame photometry, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Career Options

After completing an MD in Pharmacology, 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, Medical Advisor, Regional Medical Advisor, etc.

While in the Private sector the options include Resident Doctor, Consultant, Visiting Consultant (Pharmacology), Junior Consultant, Senior Consultant (Pharmacology), Consultant Pharmacology Specialist, etc.

Courses After MD in Pharmacology Course

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

DM Clinical Pharmacology is the course that requires MD Pharmacology as a feeder qualification.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) – MD in Pharmacology Course

Question: What is an MD in Pharmacology?

Answer: MD Pharmacology or also known as MD in Pharmacology is a Postgraduate level course for doctors in India that is done by them after completion of their MBBS.

Question: What is the duration of an MD in Pharmacology?

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

Question: What is the eligibility of an MD in Pharmacology?

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 Pharmacology?

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

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

Answer: The MD in Pharmacology candidate's average salary is Rs. 1.5 lakh – Rs. 13 lakh per annum.

Question: What is MD in clinical pharmacology?

Answer: MD in Clinical Pharmacology is a 3- year full- time program involving the study of the interactions between therapeutic agents and humans.