NBEMS Diploma Family Medicine Books — Reading List

How this list is used

Reading for Family Medicine

Murtagh is read cover to cover for the problem-based clinical core, with a general medicine text (usually API or Harrison's) behind it as the depth reference. McWhinney and the Oxford Handbook supply the principles-of-the-discipline material that the theory papers ask for, and Park's covers the community, national-programme and preventive content that reliably comes up in the viva.

Titles are tagged core reading — the ones people finish — or reference, the ones they look things up in. Editions are given where the current edition is what you want to buy.

John Murtagh's General Practicecore readingJohn Murtagh, Jill Rosenblatt, Justin Coleman, Clare Murtagh · McGraw Hill · 8th editionThe NBEMS-listed general practice text; read through for the problem-based approach to undifferentiated presentations.
McWhinney's Textbook of Family Medicinecore readingThomas R. Freeman · Oxford University Press · 4th editionPrinciples of the discipline — continuity, the consultation, family and community care; the source for concept-based theory questions.
API Textbook of Medicinecore readingSandhya A. Kamath (ed.), Association of Physicians of India · Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers · 12th editionTwo-volume Indian medicine reference used for the internal medicine load of the syllabus.
Oxford Handbook of General PracticereferenceChantal Simon, Hazel Everitt, Françoise van Dorp, Nazia Hussain, Emma Nash, Danielle Peet · Oxford University Press · 5th editionPocket reference for consultation-room decisions; NBEMS-listed.
Rakel's Textbook of Family MedicinereferenceDavid P. Rakel (ed.) · Elsevier · 10th editionComprehensive family medicine reference consulted for depth on specific conditions.
Harrison's Principles of Internal MedicinereferenceJoseph Loscalzo, Anthony S. Fauci, Dennis L. Kasper, Stephen L. Hauser, Dan L. Longo, J. Larry Jameson (eds.) · McGraw Hill · 22nd editionOpened chapter-wise when a short note needs more than a family medicine text gives.
Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social MedicinereferenceK. Park · Banarsidas Bhanot Publishers · 28th editionNational health programmes, screening and epidemiology — regular viva territory for family medicine.

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The examination

What the exit examination asks for

The NBEMS Diploma Final Examination is a two-stage exit examination, held twice a year (June and December sessions). Theory: three papers of 100 marks each (300 total), each paper carrying 10 short notes of 10 marks each, three hours per paper; a candidate must score a minimum aggregate of 150/300 to pass, with grace marks of up to 6 marks available to candidates scoring 144-149. Only a candidate who has qualified the theory examination is permitted to appear in the practical examination. Practical: 300 marks, comprising OSCE and/or clinical examination together with viva voce; a minimum of 150/300 is required to pass, no grace marks are given, and a candidate gets a maximum of three attempts at the practical. Eligibility to appear requires completion of the prescribed two-year training, a Training Completion Certificate, and appearance in at least one Formative Assessment Test (FAT) during training.

How the NBEMS Diploma works, in full ›

After the diploma

Where it leads

The NBEMS Diploma is a recognised postgraduate medical qualification that can be registered with the NMC/State Medical Council, and holders may practise and take up specialist posts in that discipline. The principal progression route is the DNB Post Diploma course: a two-year DNB programme in the corresponding broad specialty, open only to diploma holders, entered through the DNB-PDCET (Post Diploma Centralized Entrance Test) conducted by NBEMS. Two years of diploma plus two years of post-diploma DNB therefore leads to a full DNB in that broad specialty, which in turn opens super-specialty (DrNB/DM/MCh) and FNB fellowship routes. DNB-PDCET continues to run - the 2026 cycle was held with the entrance test in April 2026.

Frequently asked

Diploma Family Medicine — questions

Which books do NBEMS Diploma Family Medicine trainees read?

The 7 titles on this page, of which 3 are read cover to cover and the rest are kept as references. Most trainees own two or three and use the department copy for the others.

How long is the NBEMS Diploma in Family Medicine?

Two years, full-time, at an NBEMS-accredited institution, followed by the exit examination.

How is the diploma exit examination marked?

Three theory papers of 100 marks each with ten short notes per paper, and a 300-mark practical of clinical cases, OSCE stations and viva. You need 150 of 300 in aggregate in theory.

What comes after this diploma?

The two-year DNB Post Diploma course in the corresponding broad specialty, entered through the DNB-PDCET, is the usual next step.

Can you print this reading for me?

We print from the PDF you send us. Send the file on WhatsApp with your page count and whether you want colour, black and white or mixed, and we print, bind and deliver anywhere in India. We do not supply copyrighted book files.

Family Medicine diploma book list.