Scope of BHMS: Top Colleges and Career Prospects

In a fast-growing healthcare industry, homoeopathic medicines have seen a swift increase and experienced a great demand and enthusiasm for the BHMS (Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery) degree. However, it is important to understand whether BHMS is worth the hype or not, and it is necessary to explore the scope of the BHMS course. In this article, we dive into the depth of the BHMS course and its importance, along with career opportunities and top colleges for the BHMS course. Let’s begin the article by understanding the basics of the course.

Homoeopathy

Homoeopathy is an alternative system to allopathy, or regular modern medicine, and a natural way of reviving or healing from disease. It is generally derived from highly diluted substances that heal the body from disease. Homoeopathy originated in Germany in the 1790s by Samuel Hahnemann on the principle of ‘like cures like’ and has become the second-largest medical system in the world. 

In India, more than 3.45 lakhs doctors are registered as homoeopaths (homoeopathic doctors), and nearly 277 homoeopathy hospitals, reflecting that homoeopathy is thriving and supporting the healthcare system.

India has 277 colleges that provide homoeopathic courses covering nearly 197 undergraduate institutes, 3 independent postgraduate colleges, and 77 combined UG and PG colleges under the National Commission for Homoeopathy, Ministry of Ayush.

For supporting and uplifting homoeopathic medicine or practice in India, more than 384 Pharmaceutical industries have taken a step forward to produce the highest quality of homoeopathic medicines.

BHMS

Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) is an undergraduate degree course in the field of Homoeopathy. It is the first step to becoming a homoeopathic doctor. The BHMS is a 5.5-year course, covering 4.5 years of academic study followed by a one-year compulsory rotatory internship. The BHMS program covers the core subjects such as Anatomy, Physiology, Homoeopathic Pharmacy, Organon of Medicine, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Practice of Medicine, Surgery, Gynaecology and Obstetrics Repertory, and more.

Interested candidates applying for the BHMS subject must hold a high school certificate in Physics, Chemistry, Biology/ Biotechnology (PCB) as main subjects with a minimum score of 50%. Additionally, for pursuing the BHMS course, students should complete their NEET examination, as a NEET exam score is the major requirement for admission in the BHMS course.

After the completion of the BHMS degree, students can explore numerous career options such as clinical practice, research, pharmaceutical industries, and many more.

Top BHMS Colleges in India

As stated, with nearly 277 institutions and colleges present in India, students can choose a college of their choice and complete the BHMS degree. To know more about some of the top BHMS colleges in India, explore the information mentioned below:

• National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata: NIH is a public institute run by the Ministry of Ayush. To take admission in NIH, students are required to apply for Counselling at the AYUSH Admission Central Counselling Committee (AACCC) after clearing the NEET (UG) exam. Selection to this institution is based on counselling rounds and entrance exam results.

• Dr. BR Sur Homoeopathic Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, New Delhi: Dr. BR Sur Homoeopathic Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, aka SHMCH, is handled by the Government of NCT of Delhi and affiliated to Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University.

• Nehru Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital: It is a government-owned medical college in New Delhi, regarded as one of the top BHMS colleges. To apply at NHMC, applicants must pay the application fee of INR 1500 for the General, OBC, and EWS categories; and for the SC, ST, and PwD categories, the application fee is INR 1000.

• Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences: The KNRUHS offers homoeopathic-related courses at the undergraduate as well as at the postgraduate level, including the BHMS program.

• Gondia Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital: Gondia Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital is a privately owned college, provides the BHMS course along with various specialisations.

• Kerala University of Health Sciences: A government-owned university providing a wide range of courses in Medicine, Health, and Applied Science, including the BHMS course.

• DN De Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata: One of the oldest homoeopathic colleges run under the West Bengal University of Health Sciences, offers affordable UG and PG courses in Homoeopathy within the fee range of INR 31,000 and INR 38,000 for the complete course duration.

• Bharati Vidyapeeth Homoeopathic Medical College: Bharati Vidyapeeth is a deemed university in Pune, India, which provides a number of homoeopathic courses in its Homoeopathic Medical College. The college offers a UG program (BHMS) and 5 postgraduate level programs with specialisation.

• Dr. BD Jatti Homoeopathic Medical College Hospital and Post Graduate Research Centre, Dharwad: Another government college offering a homoeopathic course within the course duration of 5.5 years that covers a year-long mandatory rotatory internship.

Is a BHMS degree worth pursuing?

Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine & Surgery, or a BHMS degree, is a valuable degree. The BHMS degree has achieved recognition across the globe and has strong career options available. Graduates, after completing the BHMS degree course, can choose from various career options listed below:

• Clinical Practice: After receiving the BHMS degree, graduates can go for clinical practice in any existing clinic or can also open their homoeopathic clinic.

• Teaching:  After a BHMS degree, followed by an MD degree in Homoeopathy, students can opt to become a lecturer in colleges or universities for the Homoeopathy course.

• Research: A BHMS degree also opens the path to follow a research-related field in health. Graduates of the BHMS course carry on with their clinical research and development.

• Jobs in hospitals, wellness centres, or other organisations: The Ministry of Ayush and many government hospitals have various options for the homoeopathic department as a doctor or advisor. Moreover, a BHMS graduate can also work with wellness centres, charitable healthcare organisations, private hospitals, and many other healthcare-related organisations.

• Pharmaceutical industries: Many pharmaceutical companies are working to provide effective and efficient homoeopathic medicines, and students with a BHMS degree can apply in these industries as a research and development scientist or medical consultant to contribute their knowledge for developing new and more advanced medicines. 

• Medical Writing: Spreading knowledge and research to the world is one of the best options for any field graduate. A BHMS degree achiever can help the world with their thesis and medical writing in healthcare and focus on resolving queries with their medical knowledge in homoeopathy with journals, blogs, books, and many more.

• Further studies: Uplifting the career and going for higher education after the completion of the BHMS course is also an option. Students who are interested in continuing their studies with specialisation and want to gain experience can choose to pursue their MD degree in Homoeopathy with specialised subjects.

Advantages of the BHMS Course

• The BHMS course has a low cut-off of NEET scores, which makes it easy for students to secure their place even in government colleges or top-ranked universities.

• THE BHMS course is a less expensive medical course than the MBBS, and it is equally recognised as the MBBS course.

• The treatment of Homoeopathy is personalised and varies as per the individual. Moreover, the BHMS focuses on treating the whole, not a specific symptom or disease, which gives BHMS a holistic approach.

• Enhancement in natural healing and alternative medicine increases the chance of career opportunities for BHMS graduates.

Disadvantages of the BHMS Course

• The treatment of homoeopathy is slow. Therefore, the BHMS treatment for an acute disease or condition is not suggested for emergency conditions.

• The BHMS degree has limited or less recognition than the MBBS degree globally.

• The salary package for BHMS doctors is lower than that of MBBS doctors.

• The scope of the BHMS course is limited, and the BHMS graduates do not have the authority to perform surgery.