Reasons and Requirements to Pursue MBChB in Zambia

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Are you aspiring to be a doctor? Keen on serving humanity as a medical professional? Looking forward to studying for a medical degree abroad, but are financial constraints stopping you? In addition, if you have questions like: “Is studying medicine hard?” boggling your mind.

Then this post answers all your questions in a detailed manner.

Important Reasons to Study Medicine in Zambia

Pursuing medicine at Zambia offers various advantages for international students. Here we have listed the important ones.

Provision to choose from wide array of medical Schools

The first-ever medical school in Zambia began in 1965. And a huge transformation in medical education happened in 2008. Since 2008, many quality Medical Universities and Med Schools have opened in Zambia. As a result, you have a broader option to choose from. Also, Zambia’s capacity to produce medical doctors has increased manifold in recent years.

A Plethora of Opportunities for Postgraduate Training

Students wishing to pursue a postgraduate medical degree have plentiful opportunities in Zambia. Suppose you must take up clinical pathways. In that case, the Master of Medicine would be an exciting proposition. Moreover, all the postgraduate medical courses in Zambia are open to international students. If you desire to take up an academic path, pursuing a Master of Public Health has greater prospects.

Simple and Flexible Admission Process

Admission to an MBChB program requires some general prerequisites. You are to be at least 17 years old and there is no upper ceiling for this requirement. On the academic front, you should have a grade 12 or O level or better in 5 subjects. The below list contains four of the previously mentioned 5 subjects.

• English
• Mathematics
• Biology/Agricultural Science
• Physics/Chemistry

International Employability

The world is running short on physicians. Yes, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In fact, there is a shortage of 4.3 million physicians and other health professionals. Moreover, this shortage is more emphasized in developed nations. Zambia can help meet this shortage. Moreover, many graduates from Zambia are practicing medicine worldwide. They are practicing in developed nations like the USA, UK, Australia, and Canada.

IELTS Qualification is not Mandatory

IELTS is a globally renowned assessment test for English competency. But, often, students from non-native English-speaking students find this a hurdle. They believe it can be challenging to pursue higher education in foreign countries. In Zambia, school certificates are adequate for seeking admission to graduate courses. In simple words, IELTS is not compulsory.

Favorable Foreign Exchange Rates

Zambia has a favorable exchange rate with the majority of the international currencies. Thus for all international students, the fees at Zambian Universities are affordable. The tuition, research, and other academic expenses are affordable. Reasonable accommodation with costs related to personal upkeep is also inexpensive.

Pleasant Climate

The climatic conditions in Zambia suit all international students as it is moderate. The temperature rarely crosses 40-degree Celsius or dips below 0-degree Celsius.

The country has two different seasons, wet and dry. The wet season starts in September and ends in December. The dry season stretches between May and October. The temperature reaches 30 degrees Celsius during the day in the hot dry season. In contrast, the lowest temperature will be around 10 degrees Celsius.

Exceptional Hospitality

The Zambian people and rich natural resources go hand in hand to enhance the nation’s glory. In Zambia, people always welcome you with warmth. As an international student, you will find Zambia as your second home.

Excellent Hangout Places

Zambia has 20 National parks, and Victoria Falls is like the icing on the cake. As an international student, you have great places to visit during leisure. The country attracts tourists from all over the world. It is a destination to visit at least once in your lifetime.

What is the Medicine and Surgery Course All About?

The general medicine degree duration is five years. There are various medicine degree prerequisites in different medical schools across the globe. You will learn basic science, pre-clinical, paraclinical, and clinical sciences in medical school. During the internship, you get exposure to primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare.
Upon completing an undergraduate course, you can specialize in various disciplines. Some of them are:

• General Surgery
• Anesthesia
• Radiology
• Orthopedics
• Traumatology
• Plastic Surgery
• Neuro Surgery
• Urology
• Cardio-Thoracic
• Pediatric Surgery

Because of modern developments in the medical realm, you learn tech skills too. As an MBChB graduate, you will have to monitor patients remotely using monitoring devices. And, medical schools equip you with the needed skills to achieve the same.

Requirements to Study Medicine in Zambia

To pursue medicine in Zambia, you have to follow a 5-step procedure. These are the medicine degree prerequisites.

Schooling

You will have to complete Grade 12. Subject prerequisites to qualify for health sciences programs are:

• English
• Mathematics
• Biology/Agriculture
• Life Science/Physical Science/Science
• And any other fifth subjects

Associate Degree or Diploma in Health Science

Upon successful completion of 12th grade, you can enroll in foundation programs. Health Professionals Foundation Program (HPFP) is one such example. Such programs lay the foundation for pursuing MBChB.

Enrolling for MBChB

You can join an MBChB program after completing the foundation program.

Get Registered with HPCZ

Upon graduation, you must register with the Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ). In due time, this registration will help you obtain permanent licensure. Moreover, you will receive temporary licensure during your internship period.

Practice Medicine

After obtaining the license from the govt you can practice either as a public or private doctor.

How to Become a Doctor in Zambia?

To get a medical doctor in Zambia, you have prerequisites. While getting admitted to the School of Medicine, various criteria exist. For instance, Texila American University (TAU) offers a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB). It is a 5-year course.

The university has a comprehensive approach to healthcare. Moreover, it emphasizes preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative healthcare.

Career Opportunities for Medical Professionals

Pursuing MBChB in Zambia offers a plethora of career opportunities. You can practice either in the public or private domain. Various positions you can take up with an MBChB degree are:

• General Physician
• Public Health Journalist
• Radiologist/Diagnostician
• Forensic Medical Examiner
• Public Health Professional
• Medical Research Professional

Moreover, if you are keen on pursuing higher studies, a wide array of spheres exist important ones are:

• Public Health
• Molecular Medicine
• Clinical Physiology
• Forensic Radiography
• Epidemiology
• Biomedical Science

In Conclusion

Pursuing MBChB as an international student in Zambia has a broader career scope. Some benefits of choosing Zambia are:

• Opportunity to choose from a wide array of medical universities
• Flexible admission process
• Opportunity to pursue postgraduate training
• Promising international employability opportunities
• IELTS certification is not mandatory
• Conducive climatic conditions make Zambia one of the favorite destinations for international students

Also, TAU offers a plethora of benefits for students pursuing a medical degree.