Other alternatives to MBBS

28/09/2022

Not all NEET aspirants know that through the exam they can take admission into many other courses as well besides MBBS. You can pursue your dream of becoming a medical professional even without pursuing an MBBS course. There are many other medical courses other than MBBS that are promising and rewarding at the same time, and these fields are growing at a fast pace. By going through the options, you can gauge that other than MBBS which course is best for you. That would also lead you to a high-salary career option in medical other than MBBS without NEET.
After MBBS, the most popular medical course option is BDS. After completing the BDS course, you will be called a registered and qualified doctor. Besides BDS, you may opt for any course under the hood of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) courses. AYUSH practitioners are also qualified doctors. These courses are now managed and regularised by the Government as well and offer full-time degree programmes.
Courses such as BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery), BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery), BUMS (Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery) or BNYS (Bachelor of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences) can also be opted. All these courses are for the same duration as MBBS, followed by a compulsory internship. The above-mentioned courses require NEET and one needs to be NEET qualified to take admission in these courses, but the NEET cutoff is not as high as that of the MBBS courses.
There are many other courses other than MBBS you can choose from and you don't need to qualify for NEET for the same. Branches like allied medical sciences, paramedical sciences and likes are some good options aspirants with Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects in class 12 can opt for.
Paramedical Sciences: Paramedical sciences courses deal with the training and education to manage and handle emergency medical treatment, diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions and ailments with the help of diagnostic tools, ultrasound, X Rays and tests in cynical labs. As the population and the high number of patients in the Out Patient Department (OPD) and In-patient departments of the hospitals, shortage of paramedics in India is observed every now and then. Hence, making the branch one of the most demanding in the field of medical sciences.
Veterinary Sciences: Bachelors in Veterinary Sciences (BVSc) is a 5.5-year course in which aspirant learns and gets trained about the veterinary or animal sciences and can practice as a veterinary or animal doctor. Graduates from this course can work as pet care professionals, veterinary pharmacists, and animal behaviour management specialists in military forces.
Job opportunities in veterinary sciences have extended towards the private sector immensely from the government sector over time. Opportunities in animal health and nutrition, animal care product management, animal grooming and various animal farms have been created these days. Hence, it is one of those high-salary career options other than MBBS.
Hospital & Healthcare Management: A programme like BSc Nursing, which is a four-year course, is the best example one can follow to pursue a career in the field of Medicine. Rest are the programmes one can pursue after completion of their graduation. Courses such as Masters in Hos-pital Management or MBA in Healthcare are some of the most demanded courses nowadays.
Graduates from these courses do not contribute to the treatment but are actively associated with supervising and managing the healthcare process in large medical organisations and hospitals. They usually ensure better coordination & efficiency in communications across various departments in hospitals.
Other Medical Sciences Progra-mmes: BPharm or Bachelors in Pharmacy is a four-year degree course that emphasises in research and development of drugs and medicines for the treatment and cure of various diseases.
The pharmaceutical industry is one of the booming industries these days. One can carve out a lucrative career out of it. B Pharm graduates can pursue MPharm (Masters in Pharmacy) to have a specialized postgraduate degree. Also, a six-year Pharm D course is now offered and is recognised as a professional course.
Biomedical Engineering: Besides these courses, one can also opt for a four-year degree in medical electronics or Biomedical Engineering. The course is based on the concepts of designing tools for biological and medical healthcare purposes for diagnosis and therapy with the implementation and application of engineering techniques.
Candidates interested in pursuing the traditional BA, MA, BSc and MSc programmes can opt for Psychology as the major subject in their graduation or in master's. By qualifying, a two-year MPhil in Clinical Psychology can become a qualified Clinical Psychologist as well.
As the demand for health and wellness related is progressing each day, there are plenty of courses other than MBBS and career options after NEET other than MBBS you can choose from. Healthcare being a necessity in the corporate sector, schools and institutes these days, options like lifestyle management, sports management, geriatric care, and child and wellbeing management in schools are some excellent career options.
The development of treatment and drugs, research, and new and proven medical techniques to achieve healthcare goals are the most interesting and rewarding challenges for allied healthcare professionals. Hence, aspirants who are not keen or do not qualify for pursuing MBBS have a number of options to choose from, which have been listed in detail. With proper guidance and dedication, a medical professional can excel in any field.
(Writer is a Retired Principal & Educationist. Views expressed are personal)

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