Medical Courses And Categories In Nigerian Schools

Medical courses and list of medical courses in Nigerian universities

Medical courses are those courses in which health care, disease prevention and health research fall under their purview.

  Medical courses/subjects directly deal with health studies including health care and assessment.

 The word medical in English is an adjective which means something related to science or practice of medicine. It can also be used as a noun, to mean an examination to assess a person’s state of physical health or fitness.

  The medical science is concerned with deep scientific understanding on how the body works and working structural components of the body including treatment and management of health issues and complications, disease prevention and health research.

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There are various branches of the medical sciences specialized to study and handle any of the areas of the body/health.

  It may be directly engaged with chemical reactions/processes and pathways(biochemistry), forms and structural components of the body(anatomy), functions of components and organs(physiology),or may focus on study of diseases(pathology), tests and diagnostics( lab science, radiography), functional feeding(nutrition), health promotion, genetic components/heredity and so on.

There are lots of medical courses being offered in many universities across the globe in Institutions of higher learning.

They are mainly grouped into; Basic medical sciences, pure clinical sciences, allied medical sciences and paramedical sciences

Basic medical sciences deal with knowledge of the body from molecular level to the system level. It is the fundamental courses in which all clinicians are expected to be exposed. It is usually run under the faculty of Basic medical sciences in Nigerian universities. These degree courses last for a period of  3 to 5 years leading to the award of B.Sc in any of the basic medical sciences e.g. human anatomy, physiology.

Other medical students from other departments not listed under Basic medical sciences are mandated to undergo training in basic medical sciences before proceeding for further professional training in their respective departments. The faculty of Basic medical sciences is paramount for college of medical sciences.

Medical/clinical sciences evaluate medical treatments, principles and methods using classically designed studies under controlled conditions. It works to ensure the effectiveness of medicines and medical products via extensive research, thus determining their use and safety. It also combines principles of biomedical and experimental sciences in testing, evaluating, analyzing body samples and cellular components and their applications in health care and disease prevention. It includes medicine and its core branches, nursing, dentistry and clinical pharmacy. Medical training usually last from 4 to 5 years.

Other medical courses which don’t fall under these two categories are called allied-health and para-medical courses. These sciences help to support and augment clinicians to provide quality health care to patients. These two forms a very vital part of the medical team and brings about efficient and timely health services. Examples; audiologist, anesthesia technician, surgical technologist, dietician, physiotherapist, respiratory therapist, occupational therapist etc. allied-health courses include physiotherapy, medical radiography, optometry, nutrition and dietetics, public health science, medical psychology, medical laboratory science etc.

Allied-medical and paramedical practitioners, also called paramedics, are health-care workers who provide direct or indirect health services to patients under supervision of     physicians/dentists and nursing practitioners.

Paramedical sciences specifically deals more with pre-hospital emergency services and other immediate para-clinical/peri-hospital services, e.g. spinal injury management, fracture management, Medical Imaging Technology, dialysis therapy, Medical Lab Technology, x-ray technology, physician assistants, dental hygiene, exercise-physiologists, etc. Paramedical courses can be studied as diploma, certificate or degree program courses. They help to supplement and support clinical work and are usually the first to respond to accidents/traumas, injuries, disorders or other health distresses. They combine social skills with medical knowledge in making critical life-saving decisions under pressure and carrying out routine technical tasks in health care.

Having known all these let’s look at a comprehensive list of medical courses and their categorizations.

  This list contains all medical courses obtainable in Nigerian Higher Institutions and other similar African countries;

Basic medical sciences

Human Anatomy

Human Physiology

Medical biochemistry

Medical microbiology

Genetics

Pharmacology

Clinical sciences

Medicine and surgery

Dentistry and dental surgery

Nursing science and midwifery

Clinical pharmacy

Allied-medical sciences

Medical laboratory science

Radiography

Medical rehabilitation/physiotherapy

Nutrition and dietetics

Optometry

Public health science

Paramedical sciences

 Medical Imaging Technology, dialysis therapy, Medical Lab Technology, x-ray technology, physician assistants, surgical technology, dental hygiene, exercise-physiology, prosthetics and orthopedic technology, biomedical engineering technology, medical laboratory technician certificate,pharmacy technician, pharmaceutical technology etc.

Note that some of the above listed paramedical courses are not currently run in some of Nigerian institutions.

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Some medical schools in Nigeria include;

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

University of Jos

University of Ibadan

University of Lagos

University of Maiduguri

University of Nigeria

Alex Ekwueme University

Delta State University

University of Illorin

Obafemi Awolowo University

University of Abuja

Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto

University of Calabar

University of Benin

Nnamdi Azikiwe University

University of Port-Hacourt

Bayero university kano and others.

  Finally, it is important to know that careers in the medical fields are very demanding and long yet rewarding.

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