MHA vs MBA in Healthcare Management

The healthcare sector in India has emerged as an industry with immense potential mainly due to rising healthcare awareness, expanding medical infrastructure, and technological advancements in healthcare services. As of 2024, India’s healthcare sector is regarded as one of the largest employers, providing jobs to over 7.5 million people in the country. 

The growing requirement for qualified healthcare professionals gives impetus to more and more learners to consider healthcare management degree choices. Students often find it challenging to decide between an MHA vs MBA in Healthcare Management, two unique programs with distinct advantages and approaches. This blog further compares the two courses to help learners make informed decisions. 

Understanding MHA and MBA

Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)

An MHA degree prepares students and professionals to take on leadership, managerial, and other advanced roles as part of an administration team of healthcare companies. Their focus is to handle the business of healthcare to allow the medical team to focus on patient care. The master’s degree combines healthcare with business emphasizing the important skills needed to manage unique healthcare facilities and related aspects.   

MHA as a program emerged in the mid-20^th century to simplify the growing complexities in healthcare systems and to meet the gap for specialized healthcare managers. The University of Chicago offered the first master’s degree program in Hospital Administration with one year of theory and one year of practical experience, which eventually developed into a two-year PG program based on the model followed in the present day.

Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare Management

An MBA in Healthcare Management is a program designed to help learners acquire the knowledge and expertise needed to triumph in the dynamic healthcare sector. Graduates can acquire financial management, leadership, strategic planning, and other relevant skills to launch and accelerate their careers in this industry.  

MBAs focused on healthcare specializations initially catered to candidates looking for broader business acumen in various management areas with an emphasis on using them in the healthcare industry. However, with the rise in demand for healthcare leaders in the 21^st century, the popularity of an MBA in healthcare has grown manifold making it a preferred healthcare management degree choice.

Healthcare MHA vs MBA differences

MHA and MBA in healthcare management are both programs that help equip students with different skills required to pursue advanced careers in the healthcare industry. Take a look at the healthcare MHA vs MBA differences in the course curriculum detailed below for a comparative analysis of MHA and MBA programs:

Semesters	Topics Covered in MHA	Topics Covered in MBA in Healthcare Management
1	Hospital Environment and HealthcareMedical Terminology and Human PhysiologyEconomics of HealthcareOrganization and ManagementIT for HospitalsQuantitative Techniques of ManagementHospital Residency-I	Managing People & OrganizationsFinancial Reporting & Statement AnalysisManagerial EconomicsBusiness CommunicationBusiness Statistics
2	HRMMarketing of Hospital ServicesCommunicative Skills and Report Writing for HospitalsDecision Making AccountingCommercial ManagementBioStatHospital Residency-II	Financial ManagementMarketing ManagementStrategic ManagementIT for BusinessBusiness LeadershipResearch Methodology
3	Supply Chain ManagementHospital Engineering and PlanningInformation Systems Management in HospitalsPatient Care and BehaviourOperations ResearchManagement of Hospital OperationsHospitals Visits	Management AccountingLegal Aspects of BusinessSpecializationsHealth InformaticsHealth Education and CommunicationHealth InsuranceMinor Project
4	Control Systems for Hospital ManagementHospital Quality ManagementHealthcare InsuranceLegal Matters and Ethical Issues of HospitalsDisaster and Risk ManagementPharmaceutical and ManagementEntrepreneurship and Healthcare Consultancy	Entrepreneurship and InnovationSustainabilityCapstone Project SpecializationsHealthcare Operations ManagementHospital Planning and Infrastructure ManagementQuality Management in Healthcare

Let us now take a look at the skillsets developed by learners in both these programs:

Skillsets in MHA	Skillsets in MBA in Healthcare Management
Analytical and critical thinking	Strategic and critical thinking
Business skills	Decision-making and problem-solving skills
Leadership and managerial skills	Communication and interpersonal effectiveness
Executive and administration skills	Expertise in leadership and innovation

MHA or MBA for Hospital Management

The key difference between pursuing an MHA vs an MBA with a specialization in Healthcare Management lies in the program focus. Learners wanting to acquire a holistic understanding primarily in a career within healthcare administration in the industry may realize their goal with an MHA. However, an MBA focuses on multifarious business and management aspects in the healthcare sector.  

The salary and perks of promotions and advancements are other aspects to consider. Graduates with an MBA in healthcare management earn promising salaries with immense growth potential, especially after a few years of experience. Unlike a healthcare-focused career offered by an MHA, an MBA in Healthcare Management offers versatility for candidates to pivot into various fields beyond healthcare. A healthcare MBA program prepares graduates for high-level managerial, leadership, and executive roles in the healthcare industry.

If you do a comparative analysis of MHA and MBA programs to make suitable healthcare management degree choices, you will realize that a healthcare MBA curriculum and approach have a slight competitive edge over those of an MHA. 

Job roles & salary: MHA vs MBA Healthcare

The hospital market in India, which was valued at USD 98.98 billion in 2023 is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.0% from 2024 to 2032 to reach approximately USD 193.59 billion by 2032. The telemedicine market is another growing and in-demand sector that is expected to reach USD 5.4 billion by 2025. Needless to say, the healthcare sector is likely to generate huge employment opportunities in the coming years. Besides, advancements in telemedicine, virtual assistants, and data analytics are other areas likely to create 2.7 to 3.5 million new tech jobs in the healthcare sector in the coming years. Let’s take a look at some rewarding job positions in MHA or MBA for hospital management below:

Job roles and salaries for MHA graduates: 

Job position	Job description	Average annual salary (approx.)
Assistant Medical Superintendent	Ensures smooth operations of the department, communicates with patients and families regularly, and offers necessary medical counseling	INR 8,70,000 per annum
Facilities Manager	Inspect facilities regularly for any repair and maintenance requirements, plan work, cost estimates, and man-hour requirements	INR 7,90,000 per annum
Hospital Administrator	Ensures that the medical facilities are maintained as per the industry standards, plans day-to-day operations, and coordinates with various departments	INR 6,60,000 per annum
Nurse Manager	Directs nursing staff with work schedules and advises them on duties and other tasks	INR 6,60,000 per annum
Senior Associate – OPD Operations	Provides excellent customer service to ensure smooth operations of hospitals through patient records, billing information, and operational reports	INR 4,90,000 per annum

Source: Ambitionbox

Job roles and salaries for MBA in Healthcare Management graduates: 

Job position	Job description	Average salary
Health Program Director	The Program Director works with care teams at hospitals/clinics as well as with partners to clarify roles and meet deadlines. They manage program budgets and reports and supervise staff.	INR 50,10,000 per annum
Management Consultant	These professionals support healthcare companies by incorporating strategy-based advice to solve current problems and reach new goals.	INR 27,60,000 per annum
Project Manager for Pharmaceuticals	A pharmaceutical project manager oversees the development and successful launch of new medications. Key responsibilities include managing clinical trials, developing promotional campaigns, conducting market studies, and evaluating investments.	INR 18,10,000 per annum
Healthcare Consultant	Healthcare consultants advise healthcare providers and hospitals to grow and develop their services. They consider the best outcomes for patients taking into account regulations, health policies, and budgets.	INR 8,40,000 per annum
Brand Consultant	These professionals play a pivotal role in shaping the approach of a brand such as a hospital or healthcare facility.	INR 7,80,000 per annum

Source: Ambitionbox

Factors to consider when choosing between an MHA and an MBA

When choosing between an MHA or MBA for hospital management, the decision should be based on the learner’s career goals and aspirations. If you are looking for a career focused on healthcare, an MHA may be ideal, while an MBA will allow you a smooth entry into more versatile and pivotal roles within and beyond the healthcare sector.

Here are some factors to consider:

• Career Goals: Compared to MHA which is tailored for healthcare management roles, MBA in Healthcare Management has a broader business focus across industries.
• Flexibility: An MBA provides the flexibility to pursue a wider range of career options.
• Skills acquired: MBA focuses on general business skills and acumen to excel in managerial and leadership roles.  
• Future prospects: An MBA in Healthcare Management offers more versatility to pursue diversified careers for graduates.  

Why should you pursue an MBA in Healthcare Management from MAHE?

An MBA in Healthcare Management from Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) enhances your growth prospects by fast-tracking your career progression. You can acquire career-oriented skills through a fully online experience of quality education. You can learn from real-world case studies and gain the status of a prestigious Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) alumni. Manipal Academy of Higher Education is an NAAC-accredited institution and offers UGC-entitled online degree programs. Its course curriculum is AICTE-approved, making the degrees globally recognized.  

Conclusion

With the right knowledge of the Healthcare MHA vs MBA differences, it becomes easy to choose the ideal program that aligns with your goals and career aspirations. An online MBA in Healthcare Management offered by Manipal Academy of Higher Education on the much-lauded Online Manipal platform offers several advantages. Available in fully online mode, the program becomes all the more convenient and flexible for students and professionals alike.