There may be many among you who want to experience the intense satisfaction of being able to serve those who are ill, but cannot make it to a medical college, or are not keen on being a doctor. You may wonder how will you serve human beings otherwise, and be in the healthcare profession. With the development of this industry, there are many other professions that are intrinsically linked to healthcare, that you may opt for.
Healthcare Management
It is the management, administration, and organization of a healthcare organization or institution. Healthcare managers dispense order, organization, and leadership services.
An MBA in Healthcare Management helps you get into this field. The following institutes offer this course – Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai; Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR), Jaipur; All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi; Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Hyderabad; Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi; Apollo Institute of Hospital Administration (AIHA), Hyderabad; and others.
Nursing
A nurse works with a doctor in taking care of patients suffering from all kinds of sickness and handicaps. She assists in noting down vital signs of illness, gathering patient health history and records, collecting and conducting lab samples, and assisting patients.
You can pursue a nursing course from AIIMS, College of Nursing with branches all over India, IGNOU, Jamia Milia Islamia, etc.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy deals with the rehabilitation of those who have suffered a grievous injury or handicap or medical condition, to get them back to normal.
The University of Delhi, and Brainwave College of Physiotherapy in Jaipur, offer this course in India.
Occupational Therapy
They work with individuals, communities, and groups and dispense knowledge about proper working, a balance between professional and personal life, leisure activities, exercise, community activities, and everything else that helps in having a better and healthier life.
Such a program is available at the Christian Medical College, Vellore; All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mumbai; Occupation Therapy Training School, Mumbai; Government Medical College, Chennai; K.M.C.H. College of Occupational Therapy, Coimbatore; etc.
Physician Assistant
Somewhat like the nurse, physician assistants perform more varied tasks that may be medical or otherwise, but essential in taking care of patients. They can be rightly called the extended hands of doctors.
A nursing degree can help you get into this field.
Medical Research
Such researchers can be from any field of core sciences or medicine. There is a need for research in chemistry, physics, and biology which meets medical requirements.
Counselor
As a medical counselor, you are expected to empathize with patients, solve their problems, answer medical queries, and help significantly in rehabilitation and cure. You can also be a psychologist with intensive education in psychology. Or a mental health counselor, and work closely with the patient, his parents, and kin, in understanding the emotional and medical conditions. You will also be responsible for administering the therapeutic cures.
Clinical Laboratory Technician
They perform tests for the detection and diagnosis, and the treatment of diseases. They submit their deductions to the concerned doctor for further treatment. A bachelor’s in medical technology or in life sciences gains you entry into this and the rest of it is on-job learning.
Pharmacy
It deals with the distribution of medicines that are prescribed by medical practitioners, educating patients about the same. They also help the doctors in deciding the dosage and other selection of medicines.
You should have a pharmacy degree to be a pharmacist, and a license to distribute. Without these two, it is an illegal practice. Pharmacy colleges in India include the Bapatla College of Pharmacy, Hyderabad; VMS College of Pharmacy, Punjab; Sarojini College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru; Sinhgad College of Pharmacy, Pune; etc.
Social Worker
In healthcare, a social worker can work closely with the affected and the family, to diminish the turmoil, help in getting proper medication and treatment, and in spreading awareness about diseases like AIDS, cancer, tuberculosis, polio, etc.
You can be one without a degree. But some notable colleges offering social work courses are the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Jamia Milia Islamia, Christ University, etc.
