There are many pathways one can adopt from here after your internship is over. The most commonly followed are two. One is to start preparing for the exams. Many take time off and study at home. A smaller groups prepares to go overseas. They will prepare for the exams they have to take depending on the countries they want to work in. PLAB is for enrolling in UK, USMLE for USA and so on.
The second commonest pathway is to join state or central government services as medical officers. These jobs could be permanent or adhoc. The availability varies from state to state and year to year. The salaries are good.
Some doctors will join work in various non training positions on offer in private hospitals in India. They join as medical officers in various specialties. House job positions may also be available in civil and government hospitals. Some join as research associates and other community projects.
While in job or not, majority of MBBS doctors will take the national all India NEET PG entrance exam. After qualifying from this exam, the students then apply for post graduate studies as per quotas, which are similar to what we have for MBBS studies. AIIMS and a few more hospitals organize their own admission processes involving separate exams. AIIMS and JIPMER do so. One can also do post graduate studies through DNB or national board. A separate merit list is drawn out for hospitals offering PG seats for DNB post graduate courses. These degrees are similar to the ones provided by mainstream board that is the MCI.
After the specialization is done, doctors join various government or private jobs across the country. Some of the specialists will open their own clinics and nursing homes.
Super-specialty, sub-specialty and fellowship courses and Studies
These are pursued by some specialists to get training in various subjects like urology, plastic surgery, cardiology, neurology, immunology, pediatric cardiology etc. Each course is provided by either MCI or DNB or medical associations. Duration will vary according to the degree awarded. The most popular are the DM, McH and DNB. Fellowships and certificate courses are of shorter durations and so are the sub specialty training.
Alternate pathway for MBBS doctors
MBBS doctors can join defense services through AMC tests as well interviews. They also join paramilitary medical services. Then there are opportunities with trusts, railways, LIC, ESi, Steel plants, ONGC and other private organizations.
In conclusion, its a long drawn out pathway for becoming a specialist and one has to work as well as study at the same time. It’s a busy profession and your private life can get affected or curtailed. Night duties are a must in the earlier part of the career. However, the thrill of practicing medicine and saving lives has no parallels. Of course the interest and aptitude has to be there. In the long run, this profession pays well as well as commands respect in the society.
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