About the Department

The Department of COMMUNITY MEDICINE is committed to improving public health through a multifaceted approach that emphasizes disease prevention, health promotion, and community engagement. Our department focuses on equipping students, healthcare professionals, and communities with the knowledge and skills necessary to address the health challenges of populations, both locally and globally.

We take a comprehensive approach to healthcare, recognizing the social, environmental, and behavioral factors that contribute to health outcomes. By integrating epidemiology, health education, policy, and environmental health, we aim to improve health systems, reduce health disparities, and promote equitable access to care for all communities.

Through research, education, and active community involvement, our department works toward achieving sustainable public health improvements. We are dedicated to developing healthcare professionals who are not only proficient in clinical care but also skilled in addressing broader health challenges, ensuring better health outcomes for all.

Our Objectives

• To promote quality research for advancement and dissemination of knowledge and implementation of it through community service
• To strengthen the faculties with adequate expertise, so that they can provide effective ways for healthcare planning and management
• To motivate in employing innovative orders and methods of education to help the students to become both public health practitioners and academician to enhance the overall academic standard
• To undertake all such activities necessary for the growth of the college and university

Community Medicine ensures a preventive, inclusive, and proactive approach to public health for the well-being of all.

Family Adoption Program (FAP)

FAP has been incorporated in the MBBS curriculum. The students hereby adopt a family and take care of the family allotted to them throughout the course.

Community engagement in medical education gives the students an insight into the living condition of the public and how they influence their health.

Services Offered by the Community Medicine Department

The Community Medicine Department provides a wide range of services aimed at improving the health and well-being of communities. Our services focus on prevention, health promotion, education, and addressing public health challenges. Key services include:

Academic Curriculum

Periodic academic activities held in the department are:

• Lecture Classes
• Practical Demonstration
• Early Clinical Exposure
• Pandemic Modules
• Small Group Discussion
• Symposia
• Tutorials, Review Classes
• Self-Directed Learning
• Integrated Teaching
• AETCOM
• Basic Science Correlation Classes / Clinical Seminar
• Formative and Summative Assessments

The department also gives extensive training and high degree of professional competency to MBBS undergraduate students and CRMIs.

Rural Health Training Center (RHTC)

The Upgraded Primary Health Center (PHC) in Shoolagiri, Krishnagiri District, Tamil Nadu, serves a rural population of 56,836 across six sub-centers. It is located approximately 23 kilometers from the Government Medical College, Krishnagiri, facilitating potential collaborations for medical training and community health initiatives.

Services Provided

• Outpatient Care: General medical consultations and treatment for common ailments
• Maternal and Child Health Services: Antenatal and postnatal care, safe deliveries, and neonatal care
• Immunization Services: Routine vaccinations under the Universal Immunization Program (UIP)
• Family Planning Services: Contraceptive counseling, sterilization procedures, and distribution of contraceptives
• Non-Communicable Disease Management: Screening and management of hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses
• Communicable Disease Control: Diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases like tuberculosis, leprosy, and vector-borne diseases
• Emergency and Minor Procedures: Basic trauma care, first aid, and minor surgical interventions
• Diagnostics and Laboratory Services: Basic investigations including blood tests, urine analysis, and pregnancy tests
• Health Education and Counseling: Awareness programs on nutrition, hygiene, sanitation, and lifestyle diseases
• Referral Services: Timely referral of complicated cases to higher healthcare centers and district hospitals
• National Health Programs Implementation: Participation in programs such as the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP), Reproductive and Child Health (RCH), and Ayushman Bharat

Potential

Given its comprehensive service coverage, infrastructure, and proximity to the medical college, Shoolagiri PHC is well-positioned to serve as a Rural Health Training Center (RHTC) for Government Medical College, Krishnagiri. This integration would provide medical students and interns with practical experience in rural healthcare delivery, disease prevention, and community-based interventions.

Urban Health Training Center (UHTC)

The Urban Primary Health Center (UPHC) in Rasi Street, Tiruvannamalai Road, Krishnagiri, serves as a vital healthcare facility catering to the urban population. Covering a total population of 83,022, this UPHC provides comprehensive primary healthcare services to the residents of Krishnagiri, focusing on preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative healthcare. The UPHC is located approximately 12 kilometers from the Government Medical College, Krishnagiri, making it an ideal facility for medical training and academic collaboration.

Services Provided

• Outpatient Care: General medical consultations and treatment for common ailments
• Maternal and Child Health Services: Antenatal and postnatal care, immunizations, pediatric care, and nutritional support
• Family Planning Services: Contraceptive counseling, sterilization procedures, and distribution of contraceptives
• Non-Communicable Disease Management: Screening, diagnosis, and treatment of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other chronic conditions
• Communicable Disease Control: Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases like tuberculosis, dengue, and vector-borne illnesses
• Emergency and Minor Procedures: Basic trauma care, wound dressing, and minor surgical interventions
• Laboratory Services: Basic diagnostic tests, including blood tests, urine analysis, and pregnancy tests
• Health Education and Counseling: Awareness programs on hygiene, nutrition, sanitation, and lifestyle disease prevention
• Referral Services: Coordination with higher medical centers for advanced treatment and specialized care
• Implementation of National Health Programs: Participation in programs like the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP), and Maternal & Child Health (MCH) initiatives

Potential as an Urban Health Training Center

Given its comprehensive healthcare services and strategic urban location, the Rasi Street UPHC can function as an Urban Health Training Center (UHTC) for Government Medical College, Krishnagiri. Medical students and interns can gain practical exposure to urban healthcare challenges, including epidemiology, health promotion, disease prevention, and community outreach programs.

Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam (MTM)

Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam is a flagship healthcare initiative launched by the Government of Tamil Nadu on August 5, 2021, in Shoolagiri, Krishnagiri district. This program aims to provide doorstep healthcare services, focusing on early detection and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), thereby reducing the burden on tertiary healthcare facilities.

Implementation at Government Medical College, Krishnagiri

The Government Medical College Hospital in Krishnagiri commenced operations on October 14, 2022, enhancing the region's healthcare infrastructure. The integration of the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme within this institution has further strengthened community healthcare delivery.

Services Offered

• Diabetes Screening
• Hypertension Screening
• Cancer Screening - Ca. Cervix and Ca. Breast
• Pathampathukappom Thittam – Diabetic Foot Screening

Completed & Ongoing Research

• Mental health among foreign medical graduates – A Mixed Method study
• Assessment of awareness of cervical cancer among adult women attending OPD in a tertiary care hospital at Krishnagiri – A cross sectional study
• Prevalence of severity of anemia among non-pregnant reproductive age group of females in hilly region of Thali block, Krishnagiri
• Knowledge, attitude and willingness for organ donation individuals visiting a selective tertiary care center in South India - A Hospital based cross sectional study

III MBBS Pass Percentage

2021-2022 BATCH – 97.8% [Distinction – 19, Honors – 4]