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How is direct DM neurology in NIMHANS?
You need to secure a very good rank in the NIMHANS entrance exam, this could be among the top 4 or 5. Here are some things about the course you should know about beforehand.
- It is a 5-year course post MBBS and the course won't entirely be in NIMHANS.
- The residents will be posted for ½ years to other hospitals like Victoria for experience in general medicine. 3 ½ years however will be in NIMHANS.
- As a resident, you will be expected to participate in OPD's, handle in-patients, and also can be posted for emergency duties.
- Working hours will vary, but expect 12-hour duties on any day and 24 hours during emergency postings.
- The students will be posted in departments of Neurology predominantly and also Psychiatry, Neuro-surgery, Pathology, and Electrophysiology for short periods.
- The DM course is a great opportunity to learn about Neurology in detail.
- You will be exposed to a wide variety of cases to standard modalities of treatment.
- The caseload can get a bit hectic. Try to stay calm in these situations.
As it is an institute of national importance, there are plenty of research opportunities for interested students. At the end of the course, you are expected to have a thorough knowledge of clinical aspects of Neurology, investigational modalities not limited to EEG, EMG, MRI, CT, etc. Thus it opens a huge scope of learning.
What should I prefer between AIIMS Delhi and NIMHANS for an MD in psychiatry?
AIIMS Delhi and NIMHANS Bangalore are both prominent medical institutes, being ranked 1st and 4th, respectively in India in the medical category by NIRF 2023. Both the institutes are equally good for MD, however, for an MD in Psychiatry, NIMHANS is considered to be a better option than AIIMS Delhi.
One must prioritize the branch over the college in case of their degree, especially in medicine. One should look after the other aspects such as the course faculty, facilities provided for the course, and lastly the clinical experience and exposure. NIMHANS is renowned all over India for its excellence in Psychiatry and is one of the top institutions for mental health and neuroscience education. Since NIMHANS specializes in Neurosciences, it is claimed to have a stronger focus and approach towards specialized learning and training in Psychiatry than AIIMS Delhi.
Through AIIMS Delhi is the most popular choice for every medical aspirant, but for MD in Psychiatry is indeed the best option given the knowledge, skills, and clinical experience it has to share for courses in Mental Health. Admission to MD in Psychiatry at both AIIMS Delhi and NIMHANS is based on the score in INI CET.
Which college is better for an MCh Neurosurgery AIIMS Delhi or NIMHANS?
This is very difficult to differentiate, as both of them are hugely notable for Neurosurgery. But like every other institution, they also have their fair share of pros and cons. Let me discuss some facts about both the institutes, analyzing which you can make your final decision.
- AIIMS has given many good Neurosurgeons. It has a high credibility value.
- It has got a dedicated trauma centre, cadaveric training and research facility, neurosurgical education and training school, and animal dissection lab.
- NIMHANS is a dedicated mental health and neurosciences institute.
- It has got NBRC - Neuro-Biology Research Centre which provides proper infrastructure for research and technology advancement.
- There is no difference in the quality of work, patient management protocol, etc. at both institutes.
- The only thing bothering the students of AIIMS is the increase in faculty members. This divides the surgical work and less share comes on part of residents.
- NIMHANS has fewer faculty members as compared to AIIMS.
You can also choose the college favoring your location. North Indians generally opt for AIIMS while South Indians will go for NIMHANS.
Ultimately, it depends on the student’s choice, because both the institutions are equally good. But a university name does not matter, it might give you the first push but after that your training and your work will speak for themselves.
Is it a good option to do an MCH in neurosurgery at NIMHANS?
Yes, an MCH in Neurosurgery at NIMHANS is certainly an excellent choice. Here are some strong points in favor of my opinion
- By choosing this course, you will be able to complete your course in 5 years, unlike CMC or AIIMS where it will take 6 years.
- NIMHANS is a Neuro-centric institute so you will be better exposed to the different aspects of the nervous system.
- The patient load is heavy and the OPD witnesses diverse cases every day.
- NIMHANS is also the best choice for research enthusiasts because it’s a research institute, so offers excellent resources for the same.
- Bangalore has a more pleasant climate in contrast to Delhi and Vellore.
So, go for it without any second thoughts.
How is the NIMHANS hostel, mess, food, and accommodation for its postgraduate residents?
NIMHANS is an institute of national importance and has excellent hostel facilities. There are 3 hostels for resident doctors, namely
- Old KABINI hostel
- New KABINI hostel
- KABINI Annexe hostel
Additionally, these hostels have 3 different types of rooms, single, small family, and family. The hostel rooms are allotted on the basis of their availability. Sometimes family rooms are allowed for 2–3 residents.
These hostels have decent facilities and almost everything you want can be procured easily. The Kabini mess in the KABINI Annexe building serves a wide variety of food items like veg, non-veg, salad, juice, ice-creams, chats, etc. But it’s more like a canteen so you have to pay for your food. The staff canteen is attached to the OLD block building and serves diction breakfast and lunch.
Overall, the hostel facilities for PG residents at NIMHANS are great.
How is the psychiatry MD course at NIMHANS? What is the stipend and fee structure?
MD course at NIMHANS is really good. It was the first institute in India opened for training in psychiatry. This gets carried over in the degree you obtain.
- Primary training will be given in Adult Psychiatry in this course. This will also include a few months of training in child and adolescent psychiatry, addiction medicine, psychology, etc.
- You will witness an astonishing amount of the variety of patients.
- You can get to see phenomenology of nearly all kinds that are read during the PG preparation.
- Emphasis is put on treatment, and not just pharmacotherapy, but a multi-disciplinary approach.
- This helps students learn not only psychopathology but various aspects of social dynamics as well.
- There are plenty of research opportunities for interested students.
- If you have a genuine interest in psychiatry should consider this course. It will be time-consuming and hectic as it requires dedication and hard work.
The stipend is currently around INR 66,000, this should increase with the implementation of the 7th pay commission. The fee is INR 73,420.
Does the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (NIMHANS), Bangalore have RCI registration for M.Phil in clinical psychology?
No, NIMHANS does not have registration as of now. The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) recognized NIMHANS’ M.Phil Clinical Psychology course from 2010–11 to 2014–15 as per the RCI’s 2017 List of the Institutions Approved by RCI. But now it does not. However, it does not mean the NIMHANS M.Phil Clinical Psychology course is invalid or not recognized.
NIMHANS enjoys the status of an ‘Institute of National Importance ’ owing to its top-notch education quality and huge contributions to society. It therefore has become autonomous and has the right to regulate all its functions like starting a new course, conducting exams, recognizing its own degrees, etc. So, no approval of RCI is required for the degrees awarded by NIMHANS.
In simple words, NIMHANS’ M.Phil Clinical Psychology degrees are no longer recognized by RCI but by NIMHANS itself because it’s now an Institute of National Importance. As for the value of its degrees, they enjoy good recognition globally.
After doing neurosurgery in NIMHANS, do we have the opportunity to go to the U.S.A. & do any fellowships or practice there?
I fail to understand why you are considering fellowship or practice options in the USA when India has highly advanced technologies and is at par with the USA. In fact, Neurosurgery is the one and only super-specialty in India that is known to have state-of-the-art faculties and super-advanced sophisticated instruments that are at par with all developed countries.
India now has almost all subspecialties of neurosurgery that are accredited by MCI. Once you complete your neurosurgery residency at NIMHANS, you will have a plethora of opportunities to do fellowships within India itself. Admission to these fellowship programs is based solely on entrance tests followed by an interview
These are the most famous fellowships that are accredited by MCI
- Cerebrovascular & skull base neurosurgery - 1 year
- Spine surgery - 2 years
- Epilepsy and functional base neurosurgery- 2 years
- Pediatric neurosurgery - 1 year
- Neurocritical Care - 1 year
- Once Neurosurgery - 1 year
- Neuro Vascular surgery - 1 year
- Skull base surgery - 1 or 2 year
- Neurovascular intervention - 2 years
- Trauma care - 2 years
Some of the institutes offering these fellowships are AIIMS, NIMHANS, PIGMER, Tata Memorial Hospital - Mumbai, CMC Vellore, etc
How should one prepare for the NIMHANS, post-MBBS exam, and MCH neurosurgery while in medical school?
Here are some highly recommended books you must go through at least once if you are preparing for the NIMHANS post-MBBS exam and MCH Neurosurgeon
- Harrison's Neurology and psychiatry portion
- Bailey and Love's Neurosurgery and Trauma section
- Neuroanatomy from Snell's or Gray's 41st edition
- Ganong's Neurophysiology
- Robbins Neuropathology, diseases of nerves, diseases of muscles
- Neuro-psychopharmacology from Katzung's
- Retinal diseases and Neuro-ophthalmology from Parson's
- Neuro-radiology from Dr. Sumit Sethi's book.
By going through these excellent reads, you will definitely have an edge over others. However, it’s important to note that one needs to be thorough with MBBS concepts. The PG exam comprises 70% general and 30% neuro/psychiatry-specific questions so invest your time accordingly.
What is the eligibility to join NIMHANS to pursue an M.Phil psychology?
The MPhil Clinical Psychology offered by NIMHANS is a two-year course with a provision of 15 all-India seats, 3 state quotas, and 3 sponsored/foreign seats. Students of this course are paid a stipend of around INR 25,000.
The basic eligibility criteria for this program are
- 2 years MA or MSc in Psychology or Counseling Psychology (Or)
- Psychological Counseling (Or)
- Applied Psychology (Or)
- Clinical Psychology
The online application forms will be available on the website by the first week of January. Attach the necessary documents as proof of your eligibility. In case you face any issues. contact the academic section early enough to sort the same.
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