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By Dr.Mahboob ali khan Phd
Introduction
Medical establishments such as hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation
centres and so on are looked upon as edifices of hope by the diseased
and the ill. Like any other business, medical establishments are
organized institutions. They follow complex processes and need
efficient manpower to manage these processes.
Hospital management and administration is concerned with the
organization, coordination, planning, staffing, evaluating and
controlling of health services for the masses. The primary objective is
to provide quality healthcare to people and that too in a cost-effective
manner. Professional hospital administrators have proven how
institutions can be managed proficiently, economically and
successfully in a given time period.
There has been seen a remarkable growth in the hospital industry in
India, which has lead to a great demand and popularity of the hospital
management related courses. The requirement of professional
administrators in the hospitals is growing briskly mostly because the
nature of work in hospitals is quite different from other organizations.
Hospitals are expected to deliver quality service 24 x 7 x 365.
Career in Hospital
Management and
Administration

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The urgent nature of its work and the level of efficiency that is
expected have increased the need of well-formulated hospital
management courses. Further, various educational institutes have
started offering hospital administration courses in India. What’s more,
a career in hospital management helps you to achieve two goals in
life, namely: a good pay package and service to mankind.
Step-by-Step
Every sphere of work demands a specialist and the hospital industry is
no different. Earlier senior doctors were responsible to perform the
role of a hospital manager apart from their normal medical duties.
However, times have changed. Earlier there were just hospitals. Now,
hospitals themselves have been categorized as ordinary hospitals,
specialty and super specialty hospitals.
Moreover, there is manifold increase in the complexity and processes
that take place in the successful management of a modern day
hospital. This in turn has lead to a tremendous demand for efficient
professionals who can handle the day-to-day chores of hospital
management and administration. Highly trained professionals are
needed for the smooth operating of a hospital.
The first step for a successful career in hospital management and
administration is to earn an undergraduate degree in Hospital
Administration. For a bachelor’s in Hospital Administration (BHA)
you need to complete 10+2 with a total of 50% marks and biology as
a compulsory subject. For a postgraduate degree in Hospital
Administration (MHA), you have to be a graduate in any stream. This
program is available for both medical and non-medical students.
Some institutes offer certificate and diploma courses in hospital
management, you can also pursue short – term, distance learning
courses in this regard. The Indian Society of Health Administrators
(ISHA) offers a one-year distance learning program in hospital
administration and nursing administration. On the other hand, the
Tamil Nadu Open University offers a two-year distance learning
MBA course in Hospital Administration.

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Start Early
10+2 level is the earliest level when you can make a beeline towards
this profession. It is desirable to have organizational skills that will help
you guide you towards this particular career path later on in life.
Is it the right career for me?
To be a successful professional in this field you should have a service-
oriented bent of mind and the capacity to work for long hours.
Furthermore, you must have a high emotional quotient to survive the
highly charged atmosphere of a hospital.
Other essential traits include skill to take swift decisions, a friendly
approach towards work and the ability to handle work pressure and the
public at large. Also, if you possess the ability to cope up with
deadlines, have excellent communication skills and leadership qualities
then this is the right career for you.
Is it the right career for me?
To be a successful professional in this field you should have a
service-oriented bent of mind and the capacity to work for long hours.
Furthermore, you must have a high emotional quotient to survive the
highly charged atmosphere of a hospital.
Other essential traits include skill to take swift decisions, a friendly
approach towards work and the ability to handle work pressure and
the public at large. Also, if you possess the ability to cope up with
deadlines, have excellent communication skills and leadership
qualities then this is the right career for you.
What would it Cost Me?
The annual fee for the three-year BHA program is approximately
around Rs. 40,000. On the other hand, the cost of pursuing MHA is
about Rs. 40,000 per semester with four semesters making up the two-
year course duration.
This is the average cost that you will have to dish out to pursue an
undergraduate or a post-graduate program in hospital management

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and administration. However, the actual expenses may vary from
institution to institution.
Funding/Scholarship
Various state governments extend scholarships for SC/ST/BC
students. The criteria for fee waivers, scholarships and financial aid is
as per the prescribe norms of the respective academies.
Job Prospect
The importance of health care can never shrink and the number of
institutes providing health care is only increasing. There are more
than two and half lakhs health care institutes that require quality
hospital administrators and managers in India
The growing need of high professionalism would only increase the
importance of hospital management courses in India. Along with the
government, various private hospitals are today competing with each
other to provide first class health care services to the masses across
the country. In this respect, the demand of professional hospital
administrators is rising tremendously.
Pay Packet
The salary of an administrator working for a medium grade hospital is
around Rs.30,000 per month. The annual remuneration of an
administrator in a super specialty 1000-bed hospital can easily go into
lakhs of rupees.
Demand and Supply
The healthcare concept in India has undergone a tremendous change
in recent years. People have become increasingly aware of the
importance of healthcare and this has led to higher expectations and
an increased demand for a high quality of medical care and facilities.
A large number of private hospitals and clinics have come up all over
the country. With increasing emphasis on quality of health care and
patient satisfaction, there is a remarkable need for persons with a
professional qualification in hospital management.

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Market Watch
The government of India is making special and concerted efforts in
providing health care in both rural and urban areas of the country.
With more and more private players also entering the hospital
industry the demand for efficient administrators and managers is
bound to go higher and higher.
There is a massive growth especially in super specialty hospitals due
to which the demand for hospital managers and administrators have
immensely increased. Moreover a professional course in hospital
management not only opens door for various big and small hospitals
but also in corporate, private and public sectors.
International Focus
The sector also offers prospects of global recognition with medical
tourism becoming more widespread. If you’re talented and
demonstrate a good work ethic, you can advance quickly. There is no
limit to where your dreams and ambitions can take you in the exciting
and fascinating world of hospital management and administration.
Positives/Negatives
+ives
• In the role of a hospital manager or administrator you will get to
meet a vast array of people in your line of duty.
• You will have the satisfaction of running an establishment where
people come to regain their health.
-ives
• It’s a difficult job as keeps you on your toes most of the time.
• Intense work pressure is a part and parcel of this job profile.
13. Different roles, different names
While medical graduates generally take care of the more technical
aspects of hospital administration, non-medical graduates handle the
operational aspects. The tasks would typically involve managing the
staff, health services, technology decisions, IT management and
working under a given budget. You can work as hospital

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superintendents, dean or director of medical colleges, medical
directors, nursing directors and so on. Other roles include head of
departments and as administrators with substantial managerial
responsibilities. A hospital manager will be in charge of the overall
organization and management of the hospital to ensure its smooth
functioning.
Top Companies
1. Government and private hospitals
2. Health agencies, laboratories and clinics
3. National and international healthcare organizations
4. Health insurance companies
5. Medical colleges and institutions
6. Healthcare centers and nursing homes
7. Mental health organizations
8. Public health departments and rehabilitation centers
9. Pharmaceuticals and hospital supply firms
10. Medical software companies and hospital consulting firms
Tips for getting Hired
1. For a career in hospital administration, you should possess some
unique qualities such as an innovative attitude, responsibility, self
motivation and selfless devotion towards humanity.
2. As health services and medical managers are responsible for
hundreds of employees and very expensive equipment and facilities,
you should be able to make effective decisions, interpret data and
understand information systems and finance.
3. A post-graduate degree or a MBA in this field is desirable.
4. Since you will be dealing with people all the time you must have
strong communication skills.