What is BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery)?
“Homeopathy is the holistic medical system which is involved in the treatment of patients with the high dilutions of the homeopathic medicines mainly in liquid and tablet form, which enhance the body’s natural healing system”.
Homeopathy is the third popular medication system in India, after the allopathic and the ayurvedic system.
According to this system the emotions, mind and body are interlinked and remedies which effect on them will seem to fit for the patient. The person got sick or has a disorder if he is out of the harmony of the above three.
The homeopathic medicines are given to the patient as per their physical symptoms, emotional problems and their lifestyle. And the best part of this medication system which makes it valuable among the others that there is no side effect on the body with these medicines.
Homeopathy has carved a niche for itself among the various schools of medicine. Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery or BHMS is a graduate degree program in homeopathy that covers the knowledge of homeopathic medicine. Upon completion of this degree, students are eligible to become doctors in the homeopathic medical domain.
BHMS: Course Highlights
| Course Level |
Undergraduate |
| Duration |
5½ years |
| Full Form |
Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery |
| Examination Type |
Semester system |
| Eligibility |
10+2 level with 50% marks |
| Admission Process |
Entrance Exam followed by Group Discussion and Personal Interview |
| Course delivery method |
Lectures, Industrial Trainings, Project |
BHMS Eligibility Criteria:
The minimum eligibility for pursuing BHMS is X and XII qualifications from an approved educational board with Biology/Chemistry/Physics/English as the major subjects studied in class XII, with an aggregate score of at least 50 per cent. The minimum age limit prescribed is 17 years.
BHMS Course:
Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery (BHMS) is a graduate degree course in Homeopathic system. This degree is awarded after the completion of 5 years and 6 month degree programme containing the 4 and 1/2 year academic session and one year internship programme with live practical.
The entire course contains Introduction to herbology, Fundamentals of Ayurvedic plant healing, Healing through nutritional therapies, Essential principles of homeopathy, Mind and body healing techniques, Introduction to alternative medicine, History of holistic health, Immunology and immune system disorders, Introduction to traditional Chinese medicine, Health, wellness and longevity. After successfully completion of course the graduates use the title “Doctor” before their name (abbreviation is Dr.)
The specializations in the field of homeopathic system are as the following:
- Homeopathic pharmacy
- Homeopathic Pediatrics
- Homeopathic Psychiatry
- Homeopathic Skin specialist
- Homeopathic Infertility and sex specialist
BHMS Syllabus
The academic program of BHMS is divided into four parts. The first part is 1.5 years long, and the 2nd, 3rd and 4th parts are a year-long each followed by 1 year practical training. Adequate prominence is given to the theoretical part of learning along with hands-on practical sessions. While the crux of the syllabus is followed in most colleges/institutes/universities across the country, minor deviations from the regulated curriculum are observed in a few colleges/institutes/universities.
BHMS-I (1.5 years)
- Organon of Medicine, Principles of Homeopathic Philosophy and Psychology
- Anatomy, Histology and Embryology
- Physiology including Biochemistry
- Homeopathic Pharmacy
- Homeopathic Materia Medical
BHMS-II (1 year)
- Pathology and Microbiology including Parasitology Bacteriology and Virology
- Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
- Organon of Medicine and Principles of Homeopathic Philosophy
- Homoeopathic Material Medical
- Surgery including ENT, Eye Dental and Homeo Therapeutics
- Obstetrics & Gynaecology Infant care and Homeo Therapeutics
- Practice of Medicine and Homeo Therapeutics
BHMS-III (1 year)
- Practice of Medicine and Homeo Therapeutics
- Surgery including ENT, Ophthalmology & dental & Homeo Therapeutics
- Obstetrics & Gynaecology Infant care & Homeo Therapeutics
- Homeopathic Materia Medical
- Organon of Medicine
BHMS-IV (1 year)
- Practice of Medicine & Homeo Therapeutics
- Homeopathic Materia Medical
- Organon of Medicine
- Repertory
- Community Medicine
BHMS-V (1 year)
Compulsory rotatory Internship in the clinical departments
Career & Jobs
The career opportunity after the completion of BHMS is not only in India but also in abroad. Many organizations are working in the manufacturing and research field in abroad are requiring the professional in this field.
The candidate having the BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery) degree is eligible to be called as a doctor and eligible to do the private practice. A homeopathic practitioner may look the career as a medical representative or as a doctor in private or government hospital.
The professionals in this field can work in companies those deal with the homeopathic preparations. He/she may get the job in homeopathic colleges as a professor or the researcher. A large number of people are not satisfied with the allopathic treatment. This gives the birth to the alternative or ayurvedic treatment.
Many people are looking for the complete cure of the disease and move to homeopathic doctors, because this medication system has no side effect, and this factor encourages to the homeopathic graduates to open or establish their own clinic for self practice.
BHMS Vs BAMS
BAMS belongs to Ayurveda and BHMS is concerned with homeopathy.
Healing Time of Ayurveda & homeopathy
The healing time depends on the individualized skills attained in any system. In Ayurveda takes less time to treat a person, but sometimes, it takes more time as compared to allopathic medicines.
Homeopathy takes more time to experiment on a patient for the medicines that the patient actually need. However, if you gain experience in Homeopathy or work under any experienced homeopath, you can observe there is no actual difference in healing time of treatment in any system including homeopathy. However, some systems perform better in specific conditions and other performs better in some other diseases. For instance, modern medicines are better in emergency care, but fails in chronic ailments.
Ayurveda, homeopathy and allopathy all take the same time to treat the patients, but the condition is the understanding of the deep concepts of the system to which you belong.
Both sciences are very difficult to memorize. You may have an advantage in homeopathy than ayurveda. That homeopathy is world recognized and homeopaths have developed many types of software from which you can take help, but ayurveda is recognized only in India and Sri Lanka and has no trusted software for ayurvedic medicine.
Income of Ayurveda & homeopathy
The major disadvantage of Ayurveda is that its medicines are too expensive and a little profit and sometimes have similar healing time as in homeopathy. Your margin in these medicines will be very less.
On the contrary, homeopathic medicines are very affordable and profit is also many times more than allopathic and ayurvedic medicines.
Social respect
You may get similar social respect as modern medicine doctor gains in the society. The society never compares doctors as per their degrees, people compare as per results of your treatment and your smiling face.
Self Satisfaction
Self-satisfaction will always remain a question throughout the whole life if you do BAMS or BHMS because of that you are not selected for MBBS.
However, self-satisfaction is a topic of personal mentality of an individual, you can also find a very miserable and poor person, but with a complete gratification and self-satisfaction. Sometimes, you cannot believe it. This world has many exceptions.
We hope now you have a clearer picture about the BHMS course. However, the aforesaid points in BHMS Vs BAMS are Writer’s views and based on his own experience. Your experience may be different from that, so we suggest follow your heart and still feel confused and can’t figure out about the right course fit for you, and then feel free to speak to career experts.
BHMS: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Can a BHMS doctor perform surgery?
A. No, a BHMS doctor is not licensed to perform any surgical procedure.
Q. Can a BHMS doctor prescribe allopathy medicine?
A. If a BHMS doctor wishes to practice allopathy, he/ she needs to study Pharmacy. Homeopathy doctors can pursue MD in Pharmacology after completing BHMS.
Q. Is NEET necessary for BHMS?
A. Yes, to take admission to BHMS degree course, you need to clear NEET.
Q. Can a BHMS doctor do MD?
A. Yes, after completing BHMS a candidate can opt for MD in homeopathy. The disciplines available are:
- Pharmacy
- Philosophy
- Materia Medica
- Paediatrics
- Practice of Medicine
- Psychiatry Repertory
