Public health is the art and science of promoting health, prolonging life and preventing diseases through informed choices and organized efforts of individuals, communities and private and public organizations.  This branch of medicine is concerned with the threats to health on the basis of population health analysis.

The population that is question can range from as small as a handful of people or as large as all inhabitants of different continents. This branch of medicine incorporates interdisciplinary approaches of health service, biostatistics and epidemiology. Diploma in Public Health is a PG course in the field of medicine and this course is offered by the following government colleges in India:

Andhra Pradesh:

• Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam

• Gandhi Medical College, Hyderabad

• Guntur Medical College, Guntur

• Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal

• Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool

• Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad

• Rangaraya Medical College, Kakinada

• S V Medical College, Tirupati

Goa:

• Goa Medical College, Panaji

Gujarat:

• B J Medical College, Ahmedabad

• Medical College, Baroda

• Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education & Research, Surat

Kerala:

• Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram

Maharashtra:

• Armed Forces Medical College, Pune

• B. J. Medical College, Pune

• Dr Vaishampayan Memorial Medical College, Solapur

• Government Medical College, Aurangabad

• Government Medical College, Nagpur

• Govt. Medical College , Latur

• Govt. Medical College, Miraj

• Grant Medical College, Mumbai

• SRTR Medical College, Ambajogai

Pondicherry:

• Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry

Rajasthan:

• SMS Medical College, Jaipur

Tamil Nadu:

• Madras Medical College, Chennai

Uttar Pradesh:

• Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, Lucknow

West Bengal:

• All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health, Kolkata

Seats for Diploma in Public Health Course in India:

The total number of seats available in colleges approved by the Medical Council of India for Diploma in Public Health course is 140 and this includes seats in both government and private colleges offering medical education with approval from the MCI.

Goal of Diploma in Public Health course:

The overall goal of training programmes offered in Diploma in Public Health course is to produce competent public health specialists, who will in a position to function as leaders of health team and who will be able to offer effective health care at tertiary, secondary and even at primary levels.

Subjects covered under Diploma in Public Health:

Some of the subjects offered under diploma in public health course are:

• Microbiology

• Epidemiology

• Nutrition

• Occupational health

• Public health administration

• Sociology

• Mental health

• Biostatistics

Skills acquired on completion of Diploma in Public Health course:

On completion of Diploma in Public Health course, candidates will not only get clinical skills, but will also get organizational skills as well. The course equips the students with the tools for responding, managing, understanding and identifying complex social and health issues in global, local and inter-cultural contexts. The course offers advanced skills in interpretation of health information inclusive of evaluation of public health interventions, epidemiology, qualitative research methods, statistical methods and epidemiology aimed at promotion, protection and prevention of health in the community. A unique feature of this course is the choice of specialist electives from any stream including global health, indigenous health and public health practice.

Career scope for Diploma in Public Health holders:

Career opportunities for graduates will be across the broad range of public health roles in non-governmental and government organizations. In the present health conscious society, candidates with diploma in public health can find job opportunities in health departments of state and central government organizations.

Thus, candidates with MBBS can very well choose Diploma in Public Health as their higher education option for leading a successful career.