Medical doctors as we all know, are physicians who work in hospitals, clinics, medical centres, or private practices. The duties of a medical doctor range from treating people of illnesses and injuries, prescribing medications, diagnosing ailments, and recording patient information etc.
The medical field has numerous specializations such as general practice, gynaecology, dermatology, pediatric medicine, orthopaedics, psychiatry and many others. The job of a medical doctor varies depending on speciality and work environment. Being in the medical field can be very rewarding, but the job can be stressful, emotionally and otherwise.
No doubt, medicine is an amazing and fulfilling career but it all depends on your motive. Prestige and money should not be the reason to pursue a career in medicine, else you are bound to become ultimately disappointed, lose your motivation to work and your patients turn out to be at the receiving end of this negative effect. As such, you need to be passionate about helping the sick first, before deciding to become a medical doctor.
The road to becoming a great doctor is long and demanding and the choice of school has a great role to play on the kind of doctor one turns out to be. Medical schools are the ones that teach students with exceptional doctors skills and manners to generally make patients more comfortable.
Depending on individuals, there are people who may wish to pursue careers in Medicine away from their country or locality and on that note, this article will be centred on how to become a medical doctor in Zambia. Are you one of such People who probably desire to explore other countries, Zambia precisely, in pursuit of a medical career? Read further.
In Zambia, medical courses are most sought after by the students in Zambia, due to the need in the country’s healthcare system. The lists of medical schools in Zambia includes;
- University of Zambia School of Medicine: This is Zambia’s first Medical School. Its scope of academic instructional delivery has increased over the years to include not only the MBChB Program but also Phar-macy, Nursing Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Physiotherapy, Environmental Health and Public Health. It was established in 1965.
- Copperbelt University School of Medicine: This medical school is the country’s second public medical school. It provides medical education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. This public medical school is the first in Zambia to be located outside of Lusaka, the capital city of the county. It is also the first medical school in the country to offer courses in dentistry. The following undergraduate courses are offered: Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Dental Surgery. The following graduate courses are offered: Master of Science, Master of Medicine and Doctor of Science. The school was established in 2011.
- Texila American University Zambia: This private higher education institution established in 2016 offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. It is open to all who wish to study and develop to their full potential.
- University of Lusaka School of Medicine
- CUZ School of Medicine Lusaka
- Lusaka Apex Medical University
- Levy Mwanawasa Medical University
Unfortunately, only a few of these medical schools in Zambia are highly accredited and provide standard education. Amongst them are Texila American University, which is one of the leading universities which provides only best to the students and University of Zambia school of medicine which is the first medical school in Zambia.
In recent times, Zambian medical schools are becoming better and doing great. While understanding the demand and pressing need of doctors in Zambia, most of the Zambian universities have improved their quality of education to a greater extent.
However, while most students clamour for careers in Medicine, not everyone can qualify to become a medical doctor. As one who intends to be successful in the medical field, you’re required to possess the following skills/attributes:
- Empathy
- Ability to pay attention to details
- Critical thinking,
- Physical stamina
- Leadership skills
- Good communications skills
- Amiable and sociable
- Knowledge of medical software
- Ability to use a variety of medical and diagnostic equipment such as ophthalmoscopes
- Love for service to humanity.
How then does one become a medical doctor in Zambia?
THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE; OBTAIN A BACHELORS DEGREE IN MEDICINE.
Undergraduate Degree Programmes in the Faculty of Medicine is offered as Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS).
Entry Requirements
- Applicants into programmes in the Faculty of Medicine may be accepted provided they have satisfied the entry requirements prescribed under the General Regulations for acceptance to the University and the specific Faculty requirements as follows:
- Applicants into programmes in the Faculty of Medicine must have passed at least 5 subjects at O Levels at Grade C or a better grade. These should include Mathematics, English Language, Biology, Physics and Chemistry.
- Applicants into programmes in the Faculty of Medicine should have at least 3 ALevel passes in Biology or Zoology and Chemistry as well as either Physics or Mathematics.
- Applicants into programmes in the Faculty of Medicine may also be required to satisfy a Faculty Panel in an interview.
STRUCTURE & DURATION OF THE MEDICAL PROGRAMMES
- It takes a long period of time for one to attain full registration as a medical doctor in Zambia. It takes 7 years to be in the medical school,4 years in the classroom setting and the remaining 3 years are in the hospital setting.
- After 7 years of medical school, you are required to sit for the Health Practitioners Council of Zambia (HPCZ) licensure examination.
- If you pass the examination, you are required to do a paid internship programme for 18 months. Only after this are you given a full medical license to practice with minimal supervision.
- If you decide to specialise in a particular field in medicine, it requires more years of studying and learning.
HOW MUCH DOES A MEDICAL DOCTOR EARN IN ZAMBIA?
A person working as a Doctor / Physician in Zambia typically earns around 17,100 ZMK per month. Salaries range from 7,730 to 29,100 ZMK, the actual maximum salary is higher.
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different Doctor / Physician careers.
In other words, a Zambia Medical doctor earns 206,000 ZMK annually.
Having known the basic things involved in becoming a medical doctor in Zambia, it is important to know that each of the identified medical schools differs in various ways. However, the admission processes and requirements may not be exactly the same. In the same vein, the cost also differs.
