Overview :
 

The Diploma in CMS ED course stands for Community Medical Service and Essential Drugs, and is designed to provide medical services to rural communities where there's a lack of medical infrastructure. This course focuses on primary healthcare using general allopathic medicines, which is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The diploma course is typically 24 months in length, divided into four semesters, and is not suitable for freshers. It is intended for medical staff practitioners who have already worked in a hospital or nursing home for two to ten years. The course is ideal for those practitioners who wish to open their own clinic elsewhere. Upon completing the course, they will be awarded a CMS ED certificate, which allows them to practice as a doctor and prescribe 50 to 150 medicines in their clinic.

Individuals who pursue this course can become primary healthcare providers in rural areas, opening their own primary healthcare centers, providing medical assistance, and prescribing medicines to people, as recommended by the WHO.

It is important to note that the CMS ED certificate is not a registration certificate for the MCI/DCI/State Medical Faculty or the CMO office. However, it is proof of knowledge and can be verified by the Council to enquiring authorities such as the executive of the Health Department, CMO, Police, Media, and Court.

Career Possibilities:
 

The Diploma in Community Medical Services and Essential Drugs course offers a wide range of employment opportunities for future generations. This initiative was taken by the country's highest court, which suggested the introduction of this course to produce excellent medical professionals who can provide essential healthcare services to millions of people living in rural and urban areas.

The program provides high-quality education and skills to prepare candidates for various activities in the healthcare sector. Upon completing the training, these healthcare professionals can administer medications and injections to those in need. Graduates of this program can pursue a variety of careers, including:

• Healthcare assistant
• Medical service executive
• ANM
• Rural healthcare assistant
• Community health worker
• Rural medical officer
• General physician
• Health physician
• Dietician
• Psychologist (with Ph.D. in psychology)
• Emergency health physician in rural areas
• Assistant doctor
• Assistant pharmacist
• Primary health care practitioner
• Generic medicines practitioner
• Allopathic practitioner

With the knowledge and skills gained from this diploma program, candidates can become an asset to the healthcare industry and make a significant contribution to society.

Eligibility:

Individuals who have completed their 12th grade or equivalent from recognised boards or hold degrees in various healthcare fields, such as Rural Doctors RMP, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS, BEMS, BNYS, BPT, DPT, B.Pharmacy, D. Pharmacy, DNYS, Diploma in Alternative Medicines, Paramedical, Nursing, Naturopathy, Dental, etc., are eligible to apply for the Diploma in CMS & ED Course.

Duration:

The Diploma in CMS ED course is a two-year diploma course comprising 1125 hours of study. The programme is tailored for individuals who aspire to provide healthcare services in rural areas.

Why CMS ED (DIPLOMA IN COMMUNITY MEDICAL SERVICES & ESSENTIAL DRUGS) Course?

• CMS ED is a quick way to become a trained medical professional, with a duration of just 24 months.
• No specific specialization is required to pursue this course, making it accessible to individuals from various science backgrounds.
• The programme teaches students about illnesses and how to treat them using a variety of essential medications.
• Completing this course allows one to work as a licensed and approved medical practitioner, opening up career opportunities.**
• CMS ED graduates can start their own primary healthcare facilities in rural and semi-urban areas, where there is a lack of medical services.**
• The course is open exclusively to working professionals, allowing them to upskill while continuing their current careers.

** Prior permission from the CMO (Chief Medical Officer) is required.

Advantages of the CMS ED Course:

● CMS ED offers a quick way to become a trained medical professional within 24 months, unlike other courses that can take 3-5 years to complete.

● CMS ED provides an opportunity for individuals to establish a career as a self-employed professional, particularly in rural areas where healthcare professionals are in short supply.

● CMS ED employees are treated with respect and often considered as doctors in rural areas.

● CMS ED professionals can also establish themselves in metropolitan areas by providing basic healthcare services for a low price, which is especially valuable for urban poor individuals.

● CMS ED employees can choose to work from home and make home visits for a low price, potentially seeing more patients and establishing a strong patient base.

Syllabus:

List of the general allopathic medicines (recommended by W.H.O)

Verdicts by High Court & Supreme Court on CMS ED:

● Kolkata High Court stated that the right to prescribe medicine and issue certificates is inseparable from the right to practice medicine.

● The Supreme Court in the “Subhasis Bakshi & Ors. vs West Bengal Medical Council & Ors.” case has ruled that it is unfair to limit CMS ED professionals to only treating rural populations without granting them the right to prescribe medications or issue medical certificates. Judgement Copy. 

Approval of Registration by CMO:

To obtain approval of registration from CMO, certain conditions must be met:

● The candidate's diploma course must be genuine and equivalent to the one provided by the institute. CMO verifies this by checking the institute's official website for validation.

● The candidate must possess a valid diploma certificate.

● The diploma must be obtained from a recognized institution.

● The CMO may also inquire about the candidate's plans to establish primary health care facilities in urban or semi-urban areas after obtaining the registration certificate.

Do you need university approvals to validate a CMS ED degree?

Many institutes offering CMS & ED courses claim that certain university approvals are necessary and may mislead candidates. Some institutes futher mention that approvals from the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), Medical Council of India (MCI), Indian Nursing Council (INC) are supposed to demonstrate that the degree is genuine and approved.

However, Medical Council of India (MCI) and National Council for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) [ Formerly Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIS)] have officially declared that CMS & ED doesn't comes under the purview of them. Any reputable institution can offer this degree, which is fully applicable to a wide range of employment opportunities.
 

Letter from Medical Council of India (MCI) about CMS Ed

Letter from NCISM (formerly CCIS) about CMS Ed