Clinical Medicine and Surgery requirements, units,fee and opportunities.

A clinical medicine and surgery course equips the trainee to provide curative, preventive, promotive, and rehabilitative health care services to the community and refer patients as necessary. In Kenya, a diploma course lasts for 3 years and it includes theoretical, practical, and field experiences learning, and training.

Objective of clinical medicine and surgery course

The course aims to graduate a medical professional who can carry and understand the following after graduation.

1. Practice clinical skills
2. Manage patients assigned to them
3. To manage a health facility and coordinate with nurses and other professionals in the industry.
4. Be involved in public health education.
5. Implement government policy on health for better community health.

Course requirements and cluster point

For admission at KMTC to pursue a diploma in clinical medicine you require the following qualification. 

KCSE  mean grade of C plain with a C in English or Kiswahili, and C in Biology/Biological Science, C- in Chemistry/Physical Science. C- in any one of the following: Mathematics, Physics/Physical Sciences.

These requirements apply when registering for a Diploma in the course in all other institutions including approved medical schools.

Colleges and universities offering clinical medicine and surgery in Kenya

For any learning institution to offer the course, it should be registered and accredited by the Clinical Officers Council (COC). The COC ensures the institution meets its standard for training the course. 

As you register in any learning institution ensure it is registered otherwise when you finish the course the COC will not register you to practice as a clinical office in Kenya.

Some of the main colleges and universities accredited for the course are:

1. KMTC and its respective campuses.
2. Kenya Methodist University
3. Mt.Kenya University
4. JKUAT
5. Great Lakes University Of Kisumu
6. Kisii University
7. Uzima University
8. Kabarak University
9. Kirinyaga University
10. University Of Kabianga
11. Meru University
12. Egerton University
13. St.Paul University
14. St. Mary’s School Of Clinical Medicine
15. Kendubay Adventist Training College
16. Aic Kijabe College Of Health Science
17. St Joseph Medical Training College Nyabondo
18. Tenwek Hospital College Of Health Sciences
19. Our Lady Of Lourdes Mwea Medical Training College
20. Aic Litein Medical Training College
21. Outspan Medical College
22. North Coast Medical College
23. Thika School Of Medical And Health Sciences
24. Fafa  Medical Training College
25. Nyahururu MTC

The institution list keeps on changing so you can visit the COC website for the latest list of institutions that offer clinical medicine and surgery course

Fee requirements for clinical medicine at KMTC and universities

The fees for each level of the course vary and also differ per each institution you choose. 

In most colleges and universities the tuition fees for a Diploma in medicine and surgery start at around Kshs. 55,000 to 80,000 per semester. Please note that this doesn’t include administrative fees, upkeep, hostel, examinations, and all other charges. This fee is for self-sponsored students which means if you are admitted through KUCCPS then your fee will be subsidized.

Before committing to any institution please inquire about the fees and other charges to be aware of all payment requirements.

Units in diploma in clinical medicine and surgery

For a student pursuing a diploma in medicine in a Kenya institution, these are some of the units that they are required to cover. This list is specifically for a Diploma at KMTC but the units are almost similar in all other institutions since they are guided and regulated by the Clinical Officers Council (COC). The units are as follows per year and semester.

Year 1, Semester 1 units

1. Clinical Methods I
2. Medical Parasitology & Laboratory Techniques I
3. Medical Microbiology I
4. Medical Biochemistry I
5. Examination Module Year 1 sem 1
6. Community Health I
7. Pharmacology & Therapeutics I
8. General Pathology I
9. Human Anatomy 1

Year1, Semester 2 units

1. Clinical Methods II
2. Medical Physiology II
3. Human Anatomy II
4. First Aid
5. Pharmacology & Therapeutics II
6. Medical Biochemistry II
7. General Pathology II
8. Medical Microbiology II
9. Medical Parasitology & Laboratory Techniques II
10. Examination Module Year 1 sem II
11. Community Health II
12. Behavioural Sciences

Year 2, Semester 1 units for Clinical Officer

1. Clinical Pathology I
2. Medicine I
3. Reproductive Health I
4. Surgery I
5. Paediatrics and Child Health I
6. Pharmacology & Therapeutics III
7. Health Statistics
8. Examination Module Year 2 sem 1

Year 2, Semester 2 units

1. Clinical Placement IV
2. Clinical Pathology II
3. Medicine II
4. Reproductive Health II
5. Surgery II
6. Pediatrics and Child Health II
7. Community Health III
8. Pharmacology and Therapeutics IV
9. Health System Management II

Year 3, Semester 1 C.O units

1. Rural Attachment
2. Community Health IV
3. Special Units
4. HEALTH SYSTEM MANAGEMENT III
5. Medicine III
6. Reproductive Health III
7. Surgery III
8. Paediatrics and Child Health III
9. Examination Module year 3 sem 1

Year 3, Semester 2 units

1. Community Health VI
2. Health Services Management (Entrepreneurship)
3. Medicine IV
4. Reproductive Health IV
5. Surgery IV
6. Paediatrics and Child Health IV
7. Research II
8. Examination Module

Specialization areas after diploma in medicine

Some of the areas that students can specialize in later by doing a higher diploma or undergraduate on include the following.

1. Pediatrics
2. Ophthalmology and Cataract Surgery
3. Dermatology and Venereology
4. Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) and Neck Surgery
5. Anesthesia
6. Mental Health and Psychiatry
7. Ophthalmology Advanced Refraction and Low Vision
8. Oncology and Palliative care
9. Emergency and Critical Care Medicine
10. Orthopaedics
11. General Ophthalmology

Those interested in becoming a Medical Officer (MO) can get credit transfer from some universities although it is not guaranteed. 

Some will require you to start from 1st year for 6 years even if you have a diploma in clinical medicine. Contact the institution for more details.

Job opportunity areas and salary for clinical officers

For a diploma, the main employer of CO in Kenya is the county and central government. Other places where you can secure employment include.

1. Leaning institutions (technical colleges, secondary schools, etc)
2. Churches and missionary hospitals
3. Private hospitals
4. Insurance companies
5. Trainer in a learning institution

The average salary of a graduate with a Diploma in medicine can vary widely depending on the employers. The salary can range from Kshs. 40,000 to above 150,000 if you have specialized.