Explore Courses
Top University
Jagpreet
23 September, 2024
Table of Contents
Did you know that the WHO (World Health Organisation) recommends using allopathy and allopathic medicines for primary healthcare, especially in rural India?
Do you wish to do something in healthcare despite not having an MBBS, BAMS, or related degree? Do you wish to contribute to the welfare of society by being a part of the medical field?
If you are a healthcare enthusiast, you know the value of giving your community access to first aid supplies and necessary medications, particularly during times of need. In that case, the Community Medical Services (CMS) & Essential Drugs (ED) programme is the perfect diploma course for you. Designed for empathetic and altruistic individuals like you, the CMS and ED programme provides both theoretical knowledge and practical exposure to enhance your skills and capabilities in the field of allopathy.
Let’s explore how CMS and ED courses provide the knowledge and abilities to influence healthcare delivery significantly. In this blog, we shall explain what CMS and ED courses are, key highlights, eligibility, and career opportunities.
CMS & ED stands for Community Medical Services & Essential Drugs. It is a diploma course that focuses on providing primary health care with the use of allopathic medicines. Recently introduced, the course is suitable for people who wish to be part of healthcare services and are fully aware of medical treatment by medicine but lack a degree. Thus, one can go for this course, obtain a certificate and authorisation through the CMS ED programme and be a health care allopathic practitioner.
It is often noted that specific medical assistance programmes in rural areas are operated without proper authorisation or approval. These individuals can obtain authorisation to work as primary health workers by earning a CMS & ED Diploma.
Through this course, you will learn about preventive, promotional, and curative healthcare services required in underserved communities or remote villages. These services reach the target areas through various mediums, such as mobile medical units, urban health centres, and rural clinics.
In the CMS & ED programme, you shall study the fundamentals of the primary healthcare sector and discover how to work with your community to meet its healthcare needs.
Acquiring health promotion and education knowledge will enable people to take charge of their health.
The course will address fundamental drug management, teaching you how to choose, acquire, store, and administer pharmaceuticals effectively.
You will acquire knowledge of drug usage practices, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance methods to guarantee the security and effectiveness of the prescriptions you deliver.
The CMS & ED course will validate your competence and improve your capacity to deliver high-quality healthcare services to your community through a blend of theoretical learning and practical experience.
| Name of the Course | Community Medical Services & Essential Drugs (CMS & ED) Course |
| Duration | 18 Months |
| Mode of learning | Online & Offline |
| Eligibility | 10+2 from a recognised university (experience required as per institute norms) |
| Institutes | • IGNOU • National Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi • Bharat Institute of Paramedical Technology • Community Medical Services & Training Institute (CMSTI) Lucknow |
| Career opportunities | • Community Health Worker • Medical Assistant • Health Educator • Health Programme |
CMS & ED may be a good fit for employees in the medical field.
This programme is available to those with medical services experience who have yet to pursue formal schooling.
Those who want to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to treat patients with appropriate medications.
Work experience in a specific field might help understand case studies and practical sessions throughout the course.
A candidate who is available for hybrid mode learning, as laboratories, would be used for the practical sessions.
A minimum level of education will be acceptable to pursue the CMS & Ed Programme.
Physicians in remote areas, nurses, and primary health workers can select CMS & Ed.
If you want to provide medical services to rural populations, you should be aware of the eligibility criteria and duration for obtaining a CMS & ED course. The eligibility criteria are stated below.
You must have completed 10th or 12th class education.
Relevant work experience is required.
For 10th-class pass-outs, two years of work experience is required, and for 12th-grade pass-out students, one year of relevant work experience is required.
No specific stream or specialisation is required for admission to the course.
Individuals with a Degree/ Diploma in Alternative Medicine, Naturopathy, Nursing, Dental, Paramedical, etc. are also eligible.
*Please note that the above criteria are general and college-independent. Whichever institution you enrol into to pursue the course may or may not have special admission requirements.
Visit the institution’s official website offering the course and fill out the admission form.
Put in all the details required and submit all necessary documents.
Submit the fees for the diploma course.
Once the admission confirmation is received, one may start with the course.
Numerous regulatory and accreditation authorities have authorised and recognised the CMS & ED diploma programme. Before enrolling in a university, you need to be aware of the approvals and recognitions. The college should be UGC recognised. Approval from the Indian Nursing Council (INC), Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), and Medical Council of India (MCI).
Since the course was recently introduced, there is still plenty of scope for what the degree holders would like to do in their professional roles, like opening their own healthcare centres or working in government/private hospitals. Even though the Supreme Court of India validates the course, the Medical Council of India has not yet recognised the diploma programme.
| Scope | Graduates can open health clinics and practice allopathic healthcare and provide community access to necessary medication or healthcare facilities. |
| Recognition | Supreme Court of India has recognised and allowed the diploma holders to provide allopathic health care services. |
| Verification | The council can verify the diploma for enquiring authorities, such as the head of the Health Department, Police, Media, or Court. |
| Legal Status | MCI (Medical Council of India) does not recognise the CMS and ED certificate or diploma courses. |
The course structure of CMS and ED courses depends upon different colleges and course duration. However, check out the list below to get an idea of the average subjects included in the course structure.
| Anatomy | National Health Problems |
| Basic Medicine | Public Health & Epidemiology |
| Elementary Obstetrics & Gynaecology | Special Health Programs |
| Environmental Health | Communicable Disease |
| First Aid | Psychology & Sociology |
| Pathology, Pharmacology | Medical jurisprudence |
| Patient Care | Practice of Medicine |
| Home Nursing | Common Ailments |
| Physiology | Primary Health Care |
| Social & Preventive Medicine | Elements of Surgery |
The exams are usually held semester-wise and in the months of June and December. The exams can be objective and subjective, depending upon the examination pattern of a particular institution.
| Examination Term | June/ December (may vary for different colleges) |
| Examination Type | Semester System |
| Examination Pattern | A blend of Objective and Subjective examination methods |
If you plan to enrol in the CMS & ED course, the colleges listed below will help you receive an authorised degree.
| S.No | College Name | Fee Structure |
| 1 | IGNOU | INR 60,000 |
| 2 | National Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi | INR 15,000 (single sitting) |
| 3 | Bharat Institute of Paramedical Technology | INR 45,000 |
| 4 | Community Medical Services & Training Institute (CMSTI) Lucknow | INR 15,900 |
| 5 | Rural Health Education Council | – |
After completing the CMS & ED courses, you can get many job offers based on your specialisation. The list of job roles is described below.
| Job Role | Average Annual Pay |
| Community Health Worker | INR 1.8-7.5 LPA |
| Medical Assistant | INR 3.4-8 LPA |
| Health Educator | INR 2.5-7 LPA |
| Health Programme Coordinator | INR 3-9 LPA |
| Healthcare Administrator | INR 4.2-12 LPA |
| Public Health Officer | INR 4:8-14.6 LPA |
Are you willing to contribute to the healthcare sector and work for the greater good? Are you enthusiastic about using your medical services to improve the quality of life in your community? If you wish to be a key player in ensuring that people from all walks of life, especially those residing in remote areas, get access to crucial medications, enrol in the Essential Drugs (ED) and Community Medical Services (CMS) course today and start with your health care dream career.
Yes, the CMS & ED (Community Medical Services & Essential Drugs) course is recognised in India. The Supreme Court of India has validated it; however, the Medical Council of India has not yet recognised it.
After attaining diploma courses in CMS and ED (Community Medical Services & Essential Drugs), one can work as a certified healthcare worker who can prescribe allopathic drugs to needy individuals. They can either open their own clinics or work with medical institutions in the private or public sector.
