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Komal
13 November, 2024
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Do you remember Nurse Joy from the famous Pokemon series, who worked at the Pokemon centres to help heal and nurture Pokémon? She had a warm demeanour, and we all loved her because of her caring personality. Well, not only in animations, you can play her role in real life too. To become a qualified hospital administrator, you must pursue healthcare administration courses and gain expertise in patient care and healthcare operations. The Indian healthcare sector is growing at a rapid rate. As per the Economic Times article published in March 2024, the workforce has surpassed 6 million as of 2024. It is expected to produce over 6.3 million additional jobs by 2030.
Great news, isn’t it? This means more job opportunities and employment for you. Now, let’s uncover some academic pathways and discuss all the hospital administration courses you can pursue. But first, let us brush up on some basics of this field.
Hospital administration primarily focuses on managing the business and organisational aspects of hospitals and healthcare networks. It is about making sure that all departments work in harmony from the emergency room to patient care, billing, and support services. It may also include overseeing nursing homes, outpatient clinics, and rehab centres.
So, hospital administrators are responsible for strategic planning, HR management, and implementing policies that comply with healthcare laws. However, hospital administration needs more than just basic management skills. It is a specialised management field that requires broad knowledge and necessary training in hospital administration.
Wondering what the duties and responsibilities of a hospital administrator are? Well, the duties of a hospital administrator are primarily non-medical and include the following:
Developing and monitoring strategic business plans to keep the hospital running smoothly. It aids in the efficient management of healthcare facilities.
Overseeing daily hospital activities and setting the rules for patient admissions and treatments.
Keeping track of patient’s records and documents, organising and sharing them with patients and families when needed.
Managing inventory and medical resources to keep the facility well-equipped and ensuring that there’s enough stock at all times.
Setting up a management system for the healthcare organisation.
Updating technologies and software for accurate and smoother operations.
Ensuring proper communication between departments, hospital boards, and vendors.
Handling hospital finances such as billing, payroll, cash flow, and daily expenses.
Maintaining hospital buildings, rooms, operating theatres, lobbies, and outdoor spaces.
Hiring and managing hospital staff, including supporting doctors, and providing them with what they need.
Overseeing hospital support services such as catering, cleaning, laundry, and transport.
Ensuring safety standards and keeping up with laws and regulations to provide a safe environment for patients and staff.
More courses in healthcare have been introduced in recent years. Their aim is to address the growing need for skilled professionals in healthcare and allied sectors. This has improved India’s healthcare infrastructure and unlocked more career opportunities. Remember, sometimes healthcare employees prefer candidates with master’s degrees, MBA or a PhD in hospital administration. But that is absolutely not essential.
You can easily become a hospital administrator with a bachelor’s degree or a post-graduate diploma.
Let’s have a complete overview of the top hospital administration courses in India.
The Bachelor of Hospital Administration (BHA) is a 3-year undergraduate programme. It trains students in healthcare management and prepares them for administrative roles. BHA graduates can work in institutions, hospitals, and clinics and grab a variety of potent job roles with good pay scales.
Eligibility Criteria
The candidates must have completed 10+2 (high secondary education) in any discipline (Science, Arts and Commerce) from a recognised board.
He/She must score a minimum of 50% (in aggregate) in the 12th.
Science students with a background in Biology, Physics, and Chemistry are often given more preference for this course. Although it is not mandatory.
Generally, candidates should be between 17-25 years of age at the time of application. However, the upper age limit is 40 years.
For admission, you may have to clear a common entrance or a university-specific exam if applicable.
Please note that the shortlisted students in the entrance exam may have to go through a personal interview or counselling round.
Scope of the Bachelor of Hospital Administration (BHA) Course
BHA graduates can find multiple career opportunities and diverse job roles to stay relevant and successful in the market. Some of the most popular job roles are as follows:
Hospital Administrator
Healthcare Manager
Quality Control Officer
Health Information Manager
Operations Manager
Earning Potential After the BHA Course
Are you wondering, how much can a BHA graduate earn annually? Well, the average annual salary of a BHA graduate ranges between INR 2,50,000/- and INR 6,50,000/-. However, the salary of an experienced professional in this case can shoot up to INR 7,50,000/-
The Master’s in Hospital Administration (MHA) Course is a 2-year specialised post-graduate programme that equips individuals to administer hospitals and healthcare facilities. However, some institutions offer part-time or distance learning courses, which may extend the duration to 3 to 4 years. Its primary focus is on the business, operational and managerial aspects of the healthcare sector.
Eligibility Criteria
You must have completed a bachelor’s degree (B.A, B.Sc, or any other relevant discipline) from a UGC-recognised university.
He/she has to score a minimum of 50% (in aggregate) in the bachelor’s. The percentage may vary depending on the institution.
Some institutions may prefer candidates with a background in healthcare or allied fields.
Typically, there is no set age limit for the course.
Entrance Exams for Master in Hospital Administration
When it comes to admissions to the MHA course, most colleges and institutions conduct their entrance exams. Some of the entrance exams at popular colleges are as follows:
Tata Institute of Social Sciences National Entrance Test (TISS-NET)
Symbiosis International University (SIU) Entrance Exam
Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences Ranchi (RIMS) Entrance Test
Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test (INI-CET)
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Exam (PGIMER)
Please note that the shortlisted students in the entrance exam may have to go through a personal interview or counselling round.
Scope of the Master of Hospital Administration (MHA) Course
There are multiple career opportunities available for MHA graduates. In fact, many notable research centres, hospitals and healthcare organisations like Fortis, Apollo, AIIMS and Max Healthcare, hire hospital administrators to manage operations and improve patient care systems.
For an MHA graduate, some of the most popular job roles are as follows:
Healthcare Manager
Hospital Administrator
Clinical Operations Manager
Health Policy Analyst
Pharmaceutical or Healthcare Consultant
Medical Equipment Manager
Public Health Administrator
Earning Potential After the MHA Course
MHA course has a wide scope in career advancement and good earning potential. The average annual salary of a MHA graduate ranges between INR 3,00,000/- and INR 7,00,000/-. However, if the individual is experienced in the field, then the average annual salary may shoot up to INR 13,00,000/-
The PG Diploma in Hospital and Health Management is typically a 1-year diploma course. It prepares students to take on managerial and administrative roles. It focuses on planning, managing operations, budgeting, and policymaking. The graduates can work in healthcare centres, hospitals, health insurance companies, NGOs, pharmaceutical companies, government health departments etc.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in hospital administration, pharmacy, homoeopathy or any medical discipline. The degree should be recognised by the Medical Council of India or the Dental Council of India.
You are also eligible if you have an MBBS, BAMS or BDS degree.
Minimum aggregate marks vary depending on the institution.
Most institutions prefer prior work experience in the healthcare sector.
There is no strict upper age limit for the course.
There are no entrance exams for this course. But to get admission in reputed colleges, you may need to have prior work experience to show your credibility.
Scope of the PG Diploma in Hospital and Health Management Course
This course can give way to diverse leadership job roles, primarily managerial positions. If you are already a working professional and have good experience in the healthcare sector, then earning this degree is like a cherry on top. You can work in hospitals, clinics, NGOs, public health departments, and international health organisations.
For a PG Diploma holder in hospital and health management, some of the most popular job roles are as follows:
Hospital Administrator
Quality Manager
Health Program Manager
Operations Manager
Healthcare Consultant
Earning Potential After the PG Diploma in Hospital and Health Management Course
PG Diploma in Hospital and Health Management is best to grab leadership and managerial job roles. It has a wide scope in career advancement and has a good earning potential. The average annual salary of a PG Diploma graduate ranges between INR 5,00,000/- and INR 35,00,000/-.
An MBA in Healthcare and Healthcare Management is typically a 2-year specialised management programme. It combines business administration with healthcare practices to prepare students to handle complex management tasks in the healthcare sector. The course consists of topics related to healthcare operations, patient care management, healthcare finances, and efficient management of healthcare resources and policies. The graduates can work in hospitals, clinics, non-profit healthcare organisations, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and government agencies.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline (such as BBA, BAMS, MBBS, BDS, or any related field) from a UGC-recognised college.
He/she has to score a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in the bachelor’s. The percentage may vary depending on the institution.
There is no strict age limit for the course.
Entrance Exams for Hospital and Healthcare Management
While the entrance exam is not mandatory for the online MBA programmes, in regular courses it is a must. For an MBA in Hospital and Healthcare Management, most colleges prefer standard entrance exams for admission to this programme.
Common Admission Test (CAT)
Management Aptitude Test (MAT)
Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)
GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)
Institute-specific entrance exams may also apply
Note:
The shortlisted students in the entrance exam may have to go through a personal interview or counselling round.
Some institutions may prefer candidates with prior work experience in the healthcare sector.
Scope of MBA in Hospital and Healthcare Management Course
This course prepares graduates for various leadership roles in different domains of the healthcare industry. This includes healthcare finance, healthcare laws, healthcare policies, operations and management. Some of the popular job roles in this sector are as follows:
Hospital Administrator
Healthcare Manager
Healthcare Consultant
Health Information Manager
Pharmaceutical Manager
Clinical Manager
Healthcare Finance Manager
Also Read: Online MBA in Healthcare and Hospital Administration Guide
Earning Potential After MBA in Hospital and Healthcare Management Course
The earning potential for an MBA in Healthcare Management graduate typically ranges between INR 5 LPA and INR 25 LPA. For entry-level graduates, the salary varies between INR 5 LPA and INR 8 LPA. As mid-level professionals, you can expect to earn between INR 8 LPA and INR 15 LPA. And as senior professionals and managers, you can earn between INR 20,00,000 and INR 40,00,000 annually.
A diploma in hospital Administration is typically a 1-year course but may range from 6 months to 2 years. The course is designed for individuals who wish to pursue a career in the healthcare sector. It is a specialised programme that students can pursue after class 12th. The course aims to provide foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to effectively manage hospital operations.
Eligibility Criteria
The candidate must have completed their 10+2 (or high school) or have a bachelor’s degree from a recognised college.
It is absolutely not mandatory, but prior work experience in the healthcare sector can be advantageous.
Note: Individuals from any educational background can apply. There is no particular preference or prerequisites.
Scope of the Diploma in Hospital Administration Course
Graduates of the Diploma in Hospital Administration programme can explore a variety of roles in the healthcare sector, such as:
Hospital Assistant Administrator
Healthcare Operations Executive
Quality Assurance Executive
Patient Care Coordinator
Medical Records Supervisor
The earning potential for a graduate varies as per experience, job role, and the organisation. The average annual salary of a diploma holder ranges between INR 2 LPA to INR 15 LPA. Fresh graduates can expect their earnings between INR 2 LPA and INR 4 LPA. Mid-level professionals work as department heads or operations managers and earn between INR 4 LPA and INR 8 LPA. Whereas the ones who are in senior and managerial roles typically earn between INR 8 LPA and INR 12 LPA.
The Hospital Administration field has a high success rate among professionals in India. Its growth rate is increasing exponentially every year, leading to more job role vacancies for healthcare managers. By now, you surely have an overview of the different hospital administration courses in India. To become a qualified hospital administrator, now you can choose the course that best aligns with your career goals and background. It can be a Bachelor’s in Hospital Administration, a Master’s in Hospital Administration, or a PG Diploma in Health Management. Identify your goals, analyse your profile, and choose the best course for your career goals.
