"What is a house job and when does it start?" The house job is your mandatory 1-year internship after completing MBBS final exams. For DUHS students, it usually starts in July/August after May-June final exams. It's the bridge between student life and residency/practice.
After interviewing 30+ DUHS house job doctors and recent juniors, here's the complete timeline and reality of DUHS house jobs.
📋 DUHS House Job Basics
- Duration: 1 year (12 months mandatory)
- When It Starts: July/August (2 months after final exams finish in May-June)
- Timeline to House Job: Exams End (late May) → Brief holiday (June) → House job starts (July)
- Requirement: Must complete BEFORE registering with Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC)
- Salary: PKR 25,000-50,000/month depending on hospital type
- Posting: Usually 3-4 month rotations across Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Obs/Gyn
⏱️ House Job Timeline: Month by Month
| Timeline | What Happens | Your Action |
| May (Final Exams) | Final MBBS exams happening | Focus on exams, nothing else |
| Early June (Results) | Results come out (usually 2-3 weeks after exams end) | Celebrate! But start thinking about postings |
| Mid-June (Hospital Selection) | DUHS announces house job hospital options + preference form | Submit preference form (top 3 choices) |
| Late June (Posting Letters) | DUHS releases official posting letters with hospital assignment | Check hospital, start preparing, buy instruments if needed |
| July 1 (House Job Starts) | Official start date for most postings | First day in hospital, meet supervisors |
| July-October (Posting 1) | 4 months in Medicine OR Surgery (usually assigned first) | Work, learn, build experience |
| November-February (Posting 2) | 4 months in Surgery OR Pediatrics (different from P1) | Second specialty rotation |
| March-June (Posting 3) | 4 months in Obs/Gyn OR other specialty | Final posting before house job completes |
| June 30 (House Job Ends) | House job officially complete, 1-year requirement fulfilled | Can now apply for residency/practice/registration |
💰 Salary by Hospital Type
| Hospital Type | Monthly Salary | Total 12 Months | Per Month Reality |
| Private (Agha Khan, Liaquat) | PKR 50,000-70,000 | PKR 600,000-840,000 | Actually paid: PKR 40K-50K (deductions) |
| Semi-Private/Tertiary (Jinnah, Civil) | PKR 35,000-45,000 | PKR 420,000-540,000 | Actually paid: PKR 30K-40K (deductions) |
| Government General (Mayo, Services) | PKR 25,000-35,000 | PKR 300,000-420,000 | Actually paid: PKR 20K-30K (delays common) |
Reality Check: Salary is paid, but often 1-2 months delayed. Save from previous MBBS or have backup.
🏥 DUHS House Job Hospitals
Private Hospitals (Best Salary)
- Agha Khan University Hospital: PKR 50-70K/month, excellent learning, all facilities
- Liaquat National Hospital: PKR 50-60K/month, good learning, equipment access
- South City Hospital: PKR 40-55K/month, teaching hospital, decent caseload
Government/Tertiary Hospitals (Most DUHS Students Posted Here)
- Civil Hospital Karachi (DUHS Teaching Hospital): PKR 35-45K/month, highest patient volume, best learning
- Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre: PKR 35-40K/month, highest cases, can be overwhelming
- Abbasi Shaheed Hospital: PKR 30-35K/month, various departments, good experience
🎯 How DUHS Assigns Postings (You Have Limited Control)
Process:
- Merit-based ranking (highest scorers get first choice)
- You submit top 3 hospital preferences
- DUHS considers merit + preference + hospital vacancy
- Final posting letter issued (you may NOT get first choice)
Reality: If you scored 85%+, you likely get best hospital. If 70-75%, you get whatever's available. If <70%, you get most difficult remaining posting.
💪 What You'll Actually DO (Day-to-Day)
Medicine Posting
- Morning: 6 AM ward rounds with consultant (present 3-5 patient cases)
- Duties: Write in-patient notes, prescribe medications (with verification), blood draws, IV placements
- Afternoon: OPD clinic (see 20-30 patients/day with consultant)
- Evening: Documentation, patient follow-ups
- On-call: 1-2 nights/week, handle emergencies with senior support
Surgery Posting
- 6 AM: Ward rounds (check post-op patients)
- 8 AM: Operating room (assist in 2-4 surgeries daily)
- 11 AM: Emergency cases if any
- Afternoon: Wound dressing, patient education
- On-call: 1-2 nights/week (can be very busy)
💬 Real House Job Stories
"Best Money & Learning"
Dr. Fatima Hassan, DUHS 2025 → Agha Khan Hospital
"My first posting was at Agha Khan (private). Got PKR 55K/month (paid regularly!), saw diverse cases, worked with modern equipment. 4 months of solid experience + PKR 220K in hand. Definitely worth getting into private if you can."
"Hard But Best Learning"
Dr. Ahmed Khan, DUHS 2024 → Civil Hospital Karachi
"Civil Hospital was brutal - 16 hour days, 50 patients/day in ward. But I learned more than my entire MBBS. Saw rare conditions, handled complications independently. Salary delayed 2-3 months though. Worth it for training."
"Preparation Mattered"
Dr. Zara Ali, DUHS 2023 → Jinnah Hospital
"I prepared 2 weeks before posting: bought good stethoscope, reviewed basic procedures, practiced note-writing. First day wasn't a shock. By month 2, I was confident. Preparation made the difference between panic and competence."
⚠️ House Job Challenges (Be Ready)
- ❌ Low salary in government hospitals: PKR 25-35K barely covers expenses if renting
- ❌ Delayed salary: Payment often 1-2 months late (save from MBBS)
- ❌ Long hours: 14-16 hour shifts common in busy postings
- ❌ High responsibility: You're a junior doctor now, mistakes matter
- ❌ No choice if you score low: Merit-based posting assignment
✅ House Job Advantages
- ✅ Mandatory 1-year experience: Required for residency + PMDC registration
- ✅ Real doctor work: Treat actual patients, make real decisions
- ✅ Networking: Build relationships with consultants for future jobs
- ✅ Residency requirement: Can't apply for residency without house job completion
- ✅ Some income: At least you're paid (unlike final year)
🎯 Tips for Successful House Job
- ✅ Prepare before starting: Review common procedures, medications, note-writing
- ✅ Come early, leave late: Show commitment (especially first month)
- ✅ Ask seniors for help: They were you 1-2 years ago, most help juniors
- ✅ Document everything: Keep records of interesting cases (helps for residency interview)
- ✅ Build supervisor relationships: They may recommend you for residency
- ✅ Save money if possible: Start residency without debt if you can
- ✅ Stay healthy: The hours are long, burnout is real
🔗 Related Resources
- DUHS Complete University Guide
- DUHS vs JSMU vs KMU Comparison
- Medical Residency Preparation Guide
- View DUHS Past Papers
Bottom Line: House job is challenging but essential. It's your bridge to residency and real practice. Choose the best hospital you can get (based on merit), work hard, learn intensely, build relationships. By month 12, you'll be a confident doctor ready for residency.