The hottest and accredited
Are you interested in pursuing a programme in the health sector? Are you finding it difficult selecting a particular programme? Do you want background information of your programme of choice? Well, your days of worry are over, this article brings to you the top health programmes in the country and their respective details to guide you choice.
- Bachelor of Science in medicine/ Human Biology/ Dental Surgery
This undoubtedly is the most enviable and one of the most prestigious programmes as far as education in Ghana is concerned.
Due the high demand on the course in the various universities having a very good grade of 6 or 7 will be a better prerequisite to get admission. However this depends on the general performance of applicants, particular university and availability of money to pursue as a full fee paying student.
It must be noted that this programme is a 6- year programme and some institutions offer it strictly as a ‘’FEE PAYING’’ programme (eg. The University of Cape Coast). Applicants who qualify for admission may be called upon for a written or oral examination or both as the case may be.
After school graduates are awarded the bachelor of medicine and surgery or dental and surgery and are licensed by the Medical and Dental council after passing licensure exams. Graduate can go into research, academia, public health, or specialize in clinical medicine, cardiology, oncology, paedetritics, psychological Medicine, Surgery, Pathology etc.
Medical doctors are one of the most highly paid and respected professionals in Ghana.
- Bachelor/ Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science/ technology
Medical Laboratory Science, also referred to as Clinical Laboratory Science is a crucial and an important department especially in our era of ‘’Evidence based medicine’’. Laboratory Science is where basic science meets the practice of medicine. It is a profession of highly knowledgeable and skilled individuals who perform clinical laboratory tests on blood, other body fluids, or tissue samples. This is a critical part of health care, as the results obtained by these laboratory tests are a vital tool for physicians in their diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. It is by these duties perform which make them referred to as ‘THE DOCTORS’ doctor.
Like Medicine, Medical Laboratory Science is becoming one of the hot cake programmes in our universities with average entry grade of 7 for the Bachelors degree programme and the 6 year doctor of Medical Laboratory Science which can only be pursued at the University of Development Studies, Tamale.
The laboratory profession is dynamic and continually changing one as it reflects scientific and medical discoveries. It is a programme that opens students’ scope of thinking: medicine, science, technology and IT wise.
Due to their educational background, graduates enjoy a wide range of career opportunities. Many medical laboratory scientists are employed in hospital and private laboratories where they utilize their expertise in such sophisticated areas as andrology /embryology, bone marrow transplantation, cancer research, forensic toxicology, molecular diagnostic testing, to name a few. Others work chiefly in health agencies, industrial medical or biomedical laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, research laboratories, forensic laboratories, and veterinary clinics.
The major disciplines include medical microbiology, clinical chemistry (chemical Pathology), hematology, histo/cytopathology, and molecular diagnostics.
Graduates are required to pass a licensure exam conducted by the Allied Health Professional Council before they can practice as certified Medical Laboratory Scientists in Ghana.
- Doctor of Optometry
Optometry, just like Medicine, it is a 6- year bachelor degree programme offered at KNUST and UCC. The entry grade is aggregate 6 and successful applicants may be required to pass an oral interview or written examination.
Doctors of Optometry (ODs) OR Optometrists are the primary health-care professionals for the eye. Thus, they examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases, injuries and disorders of the visual system, the eye and associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye. Optometrists receive training in the basic sciences (anatomy, physiology, pathology, microbiology etc) and also receive extensive training in low vision and rehabilitation, contact lenses, vision therapy and orthoptics, periatic and geriatric care.
Majority of Optometrists in Ghana work in private practices as licensed optometrists though a significant number works with the Ghana Health Service, the Ghana Security Services as well as specialized low vision centers.
It must also be noted that, students’after graduation will be required to write a licensure exam conducted by the Allied Health Professional Council.
- Bachelor of Science in nursing
Nursing, is one of the oldest professions in the health sector and Ghana as a whole. Nurses are the most conspicuous professionals in today’s healthcare delivery and thus, they perform a significant role in healthcare.
In Ghana, the nursing profession was initially tagged “Profession of Ladies” and this explains why there are so many female nurses than their male counterparts. Due to the sensitive nature of their work, a nurse will forever win the admiration of a patient or the other way round.
There are two main groups of nurses are known in Ghana; general nurses or midwives. While the general nurses are concerned with the health of all patients, midwives are specially trained to help pregnant women before, during and after delivery (prenatal, natal and antenatal care). Other classes of Nurses exist based on ones area of specialization and we may have surgical nurses, ophthalmic nurses, paedetric nurses among others.
Nurses in Ghana pride themselves with the saying “Nursing…a noble profession”.
Univerity of Ghana, University of Cape Coast, KNUST, UDS, and now UHAS all provide the avenue for hundred to pursue the Bachelor’s degree in general nursing. With average grade of 8 candidates are likely to secure admission.
The nurses and midwives council remains the soul body that license graduates that propel them into the world of nursing in our hospital and various health centres.
- Bachelor/ Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D)
Doctor of Pharmacy, just like Medicine and Optometry is also a 6 year degree programme which similarly require either an entry examination or oral interview or both. The Doctor of Pharmacy programme aims at preparing students to become advanced pharmacy practitioners who will possess the requisite knowledge and skills required to function as authorities on the use of medicines, and who can apply pharmaceutical and biomedical science to the practical problems of drug therapy. Doctor of pharmacy practitioners are capable of contributing to the interdisciplinary delivery of primary health care and function as drug therapy information resource specialists.
While some pharmacists collaborate with a healthcare team to educate and care for patients one-on-one, others fight disease by conducting pharmaceutical research or developing new drugs and delivery systems. Students may be introduced to the basic sciences as well as courses in Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutical Chemistry among others. A hospital pharmacist advises other health professionals about the actions, interactions, and side effects of drugs, and counsels patients about medications. They advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosages, interactions, and side effects of medications.
Pharmacy has excellent earning potential and is consistently ranked as one of the most highly trusted professions due to the care and service pharmacists provide.
The bachelor of pharmacy is still available in University of Ghana while the Pharm D is solely available at KNUST.
Graduates are also required to write and pass licensure before they are accredited by the pharmacy council to practice as pharmacists.
Others include
- Bachelor of Science Herbal Medicine
- Bachelor of Science Sonography
- Bachelor of Science Physiotherapist
- Bachelor of Science Occupational therapist
- Bachelor of Science Radiograpy
- Bachelor of Science Dietetics
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