M.D. in Preventive and Social Medicine: What is it about?

Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM) is a newly introduced division of medical science, which focuses on the measures taken to prevent various communicable and non-communicable diseases, more than finding a cure for them, and promoting health in the society.

Postgraduates interested in pursuing further higher studies and going for research and development (R&D) in the field can also opt for higher degree courses (D.M. and Ph. D).

The program is designed to equip candidates with an in-depth knowledge about various epidemiological principles and measures taken to promote health, outbreaks, investigation & prevention of diseases. The course offers education in medical services ranging from curative to rehabilitative health services, involving statistics, psychology, sociology, law, engineering and economics as well as clinical sciences and biological sciences.

One of the major objectives of the course is to provide patient-centered comprehensive primary health care including follow-up and referral. The course provides highly efficient doctors who can successfully operate in and contribute largely to the society by promoting healthy lifestyles. The course’s curriculum integrates theoretical and practical components of the study. 

M.D. In Preventive & Social Medicine: Admission Process

Most Of The Medical Colleges And Institutes Offering The Course Admit Candidates On The Basis Of Their Performance In A Relevant entrance Test, Conducted Either At National Level (NEET PG) or At Institutional Level. Students Who Have Secured The Qualifying Percentile For The National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) Or Any Other Equivalent Exam Are Eligible For The Counseling Process.

As A Part Of Counseling, Candidates Have To Go Through Two Additional Rounds Of Group Discussion And Personal Interview, Wherein Candidate’s General Aptitude And Knowledge For The Course Is Examined By Highly Qualifies And Experienced Faculties. A Merit List Is Then Issued By Each University Allocating Available Seats To The Most Deserving Candidates.

Students In Their Final Year Of Graduation (M.B.B.S.) Waiting For Exam Results, Are Eligible To Apply, But Admission To Such Candidates Will Be Given On A Provisional Basis, Until They Satisfy All The Above Mentioned Eligibility Criteria.

Eligibility For M.D. In Preventive & Social Medicine

Mentioned Below Are The Minimum Qualifications Than Any Candidate Aspiring To Pursue The Course Is Required To Fulfill, In Order To Be Eligible To Apply For The Course.

A Minimum Aggregate Score Of 55% or Equivalent CGPA Is Required At The Level Of Graduation, Which Should Be Completed From A University Recognized By Medical Council Of India (MCI). All SC/ST Candidates Are Given A Relaxation Of 5% in The Minimum Aggregate Criteria.

Graduation Should Be Completed In M.B.B.S or Any Other Equivalent Degree In A Relevant Discipline.

Candidates Waiting For Their Final Year Examination’s Result Are Welcomed Too, But Admission To Such Candidates Will Be Given On Provisional Basis. 

Also, Candidates Should Have Completed A 1- Year Compulsory Rotating internship After Passing The Final Professional Examination Which Is MBBS.

Entrance Test.

conducted Either At National Level (NEET PG) or At Institutional Level. Students Who Have Secured The Qualifying Percentile For The National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) Or Any Other Equivalent Exam Are Eligible For The Counseling Process.

Listed Below Are Some Of The Major Entrance Examinations Conducted In The Country For Admission To The Respective Course.

• NEET PG (National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test) For Post Graduate Courses
• AIIMS PG (All India Institute Of Medical Sciences) Post Graduate Entrance Exam
• CMC Vellore PG (CMC Vellore Post Graduate Entrance Exam)
• PGIMER Entrance Exam (Post Graduate Institute Of Medical Education And Research)
• JIPMER PG (JIPMER Post Graduate Entrance Exam)
• COMEDK PG Medical Admissions
• UPSEE (Uttar Pradesh State Entrance Exam)
• AIPGMEE (All India Post Graduate Medical Entrance Exam)

Community Medicine For UnderGrads Course Is Bifurcated Into The Following 5 Sections:

1) Health And Its Determinants2) Epidemiology3) Care Of Vulnerable Population4) Management In Health5) Practicals

For The Comfort Of The Students, These Sections Are Further Subdivided And Spread Over 40 Different Topics, Which Are Followed By 105 Sub-topics, So That The Students Can Easily Understand And Learn All The Basics Of Community Medicine/PSM. Moreover, The Practical Section Covers:

• Family Health That Includes How To Study A Family And The Index Case Of The Family.• Spots And Exercises That Include Spotters From MCH, Nutrition, And Equipment, And Exercises On Epidemiology And Statistics. Primarily, The Faculty Has Discussed The Formulae In The Exercises Section Along With The Calculation, And Relevant Topics With Numerous Examples.

At The End Of Each Session, Questions With Answer Keys Are Provided For Self-assessment. The Animations In The Videos Will Acquaint The Students With Commonly Asked Questions In Viva Voce And University Examinations Regarding Social Medicine And Community Health; Thus, Enabling Them In Studying And Preparing The Subject Simultaneously. Not Only University Exams, But The Course Also Helps Students To Prepare For NEET PG Exam.

Teaching Community Medicine To Undergraduate Students Has Become An Important Part Of The Medical Curriculum To Ensure That Trained Individuals Maintain And Improve The High Standards Of Health In A Developing Nation Like India In General.

Other FAQs Related To Community Medicine Subject

1. What Are The Important Topics In Community Medicine? (Cover Secondary Keywords)

Community Medicine Covers Social Medicine And Community Health, Community Family Medicine, And Preventive And Social Medicine (PSM). Some Of The Most Important Topics Are Nutrition, Epidemiology, Safe Water, Biomedical Waste Management, Tuberculosis, RMNCH+A Programme, Public Health Emergency, Family Health Care, Nutrition & Nutritional Disorders, And Recent Topics Like COVID-19.

2. Is It Necessary To Prepare Community Medicine From 2nd Year?

Yes, It Is Important To Study PSM Or Community Medicine From 2nd Year. One Can Start With Infectious Diseases And Combine The Knowledge With Microbiology. It Is Better To Start Studying As Early As Possible Because PSM Has A Lot Of Weightage In The PG Exam And Can Also Help In Supplementing The Understanding Of Various Concepts For Clinical Subjects Like Medicine, Obstetrics And Gynecology And Pediatrics.

3. How Should A 3rd Year Student Approach PSM Or Community Medicine?

You Can Start Studying From “Communicable And Non-communicable Disease” Which Are Easy To Understand. Then, Take Up Biostatistics, Screening And Epidemiology, Giving Special Attention To Health Programmes And Polices. Referring To Previous Year Question Papers Will Also Help A Lot.

4. Which Books Can One Refer To Study Community Medicine?

Park’s Textbook Of Preventive & Social Medicine Is Quite Popular For Community Medicine, However, Students Also Refer To Books Such As Suryakantha’s “Community Medicine With Recent Advances” And Dr. Bratati Banerjee’s “DK Taneja’s Health Policies & Programmes In India”