Scope and Career Opportunities in Urology

Scope and Career Opportunities in Urology: “Urology”, is a Greek word where ‘Uro or ouron’ means urine and ‘logy or logia’ means the study. It is the term that relates to the branch of medicine and physiology concerned with the function and disorders of the Urinary system. Nowadays when new problems are arising day by day, the problem of the urinary system is also increasingly giving rise to new problems. This hence requires doctors and specialists to treat our “Urinary system”. There has been a huge demand for specialists which creates career opportunities in this field. In this article let’s read further to know what all are the scopes and career opportunities in Urology.

Scope and Career Opportunities in Urology

As per the report of the National Library of Medicine, in 2018, in Urological departments in India 2425 and in the world, the number was ~11,000 and increasing rapidly. People are more often getting exposed to UTIs, which if not cured well on time can lead to more dangerous and life-threatening problems. The Urinary System is the essential system of the body which keeps you clean internally, by removing harmful substances and doesn’t let bacteria harm your body. “Urologists also known as genitourinary surgeons” are doctors who specialize in providing medical care by diagnosing and treating diseases of the urinary organs in females and reproductive organs in males.

To become a urologist, you need to know the growth aspects and the career opportunities that Urology is providing to interested candidates. Here in this article, we are focussing on the scope and career in Urology, the work a Urologist does, educational requirements, colleges, and other relevant information.

Future Aspects in Urology

Availability of Jobs in Urology: The future job aspects of the Urologist are positive. Looking at the recent environmental conditions, especially in metropolitan cities, there will be the need for quick medical attention which will also create many job opportunities.

1. Entering this field, you can practice in many hospitals and clinics and can also establish your own kidney and Urostone clinics. 
2. Besides this, you can also become a professor and teach in Universities or professional institutions.
3. Urology can also help you work in diagnostic labs, and open one of your own. 
4. Researching and writing research papers and publishing books to make people aware is majorly emerging.
   

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Responsibilities of a Urologist

The urologist being a doctor has certain responsibilities as the patient is totally dependent on the doctor itself. A Urologist needs to be more responsible and focused towards the people that approach him/her. Following are the points in detail which are required to be kept in mind by a Urologist:

1. Examining the patient well and diagnosing the problem with 100% accuracy of the genitourinary organs and tract.
2. Documenting the patient’s history well and reviewing it for further decisions
3. A urologist must know how to use specialized equipment such as catheters, X-ray machines, etc.
4. Performing abdominal, pelvic or retroperitoneal surgeries, surgeries for cancers, treating incontinence and infertility, assisting with gender reassignment, etc only when it is necessary and with utmost care. 
5. Prescribing and administering required antibiotics, and antiseptics, to compress or treat infections or injuries.
6. Providing Urology consultations or referring patients to specialists, if the Urologist fails to understand the condition.
7. Directing nurses, residents, or other staff in detail about the patient.

Eligibility Criteria to Become A Urologist

Years of hard work and medical school training make a Urologist, but what makes a good Urologist is the practice. Here are eligibility stepwise, telling what a candidate needs to do to become a urologist.

• Educational Requirements: After successfully completing the 10+2 with PCB i.e. Physics, Chemistry and Biology students are required to get an MBBS or MS degree by appearing in competitive exams.
• Competitive exams: To get enrolled both in UG and PG include: 
  • NEET PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) for Postgraduates. 
  • MUHS PET (Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik ). It organizes PhD Entrance tests for those students who are in their Post Graduate Medical course.
  • Merit-based Admission- Some institutes or organizations provide a merit-based intake of a student, which is based on their academic performance.
  • JIPMER PG – conducted by Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research. Generally conducts exams biannually i.e. twice a year. The first session is in January and the second session is in July.
  • AIIMS PG- National Level Exam which is conducted by AIIMS Delhi.
  • It is then important to appear for the MCh (Master of Chirurgiae) entrance test.

Additional Information regarding the Urology course

The course is all 5 years and 6 months in duration and a bonus of a one-year internship period or House surgery. Completing MBBS, MD or MS degree in General Medicine or Surgery is important which is a 3-year course.
A candidate is admitted at the doctorate level on the basis of merit and also on the basis of performance in the entrance test which is conducted by the state government independently. Once the entrance is cleared with the required marks the training is imparted and the training centre itself undergoes periodic appraisal by the Medical Council of India.

NOTE: If you wish to study abroad and practice Urology abroad, then the DNB (Diplomate of National Board) degree which is also a 3-year course, is more helpful and is gained by the National Board.

Top Colleges to study Urology and exams needed to get admission

There are many best colleges which provide you with specialization in MCh Urology, some of them are:

Courses and Fees

To study Urology, students need to pay tuition fees and other amounts to the colleges. The tuition fees of some of the colleges are given below in the table.

Divisions of Urology

As with other subjects, Urology also has many different divisions in which the candidate can make his/her career by doing the specialization in the below-described division. Urology is a multidisciplinary field, that requires the urologist to work closely with people from different fields. Let us understand what these fields are where a Urologist can work in the associations.

• Surgical speciality
• Knowledge of internal medicine
• Paediatrics
• Gynaecology
• Nephrologists (specialists in kidneys)
• Endocrinologists (specialists of endocrine glands that help coordinate and control the body’s activities and production of hormones)
• Oncologists ( specialists in cancer)
• Urologists also have a scope in pediatric Urology which is related to urological problems in children.
• Andrology (study related to the male reproductive system and infertility).
• Endourology (deals with minimally invasive or closed surgical procedures of the urinary tract)
• Neurourology- nervous system controlling Genitourinary organs
• Reconstructive urology – disorders of the genitourinary tract
• Urologic oncology i.e. urologic cancers.

The Average Salary of a Urologist

As in the other fields, here also experience years to decide the salary. But an estimate says that a Urologist in the private sector earns ~ 1 lakh per month whereas, in the government sector, the expected salary is Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 60,000 depending upon the work location, experience and expertise. There is no fixed amount per month for those who are practising at their own clinics or in partnership.

Attributes required besides degree requirements

Besides degree requirements, there are a few attributes which are really important if you are focussing to excel in this field. These attributes include:

• Flexibility to work irregular hours and be on toes in the time of emergency, 
• Keep a good service mentality. 
• Calmness, 
• Personal motivation 
• Good working stamina
• Excellent decision-making ability
• Knowledge of the latest medical developments and good memory
• Recollection ability
• Genuine care and concern for the patients 
• Emotional stability is the key point to doing well in this field. 
• Good communication skills, social adaptability and interpersonal skills make it easy for the doctor.

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