Medical Doctors

Medical doctors examine, diagnose and treat patients who are physically ill by prescribing medication, performing operations and administering different treatments for injuries, diseases and other ailments.

Job Characteristics

• Conducting medical examinations and making diagnoses as well as prognoses.



• Giving specialised medical or surgical treatment for particular types of illnesses, disorders or injuries.



• Advising the public on application of medicine and other preventive or curative methods.



• Participating in the development and implementation of public health laws and regulations for safeguarding and promoting the health of a community.

Requirements

Secondary Education
Possession of an outstanding HIGCSE Grade 12, or equivalent qualification, with matriculation exemption and generally above average marks, is required for admission to South African universities. Selection is very strict.
 
Compulsory subjects
Mathematics and Physical Science (South Africa)

Recommended subject
Biology (South Africa)
 
Tertiary Education
The Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery (M. B. Ch.B) degree is offered at most South African universities. The degree takes nine years to complete.

The first five years are mostly theoretical training, the sixth year is an internship year, the seventh year entails practical work at a hospital (known as the house-doctor-year) and the remaining two years will be postgraduate training necessary for doctors to work on their own.

Students register with the HPCSA as medical students, and on completion of their training, as medical doctors. After medical doctors have been registered for two years they can specialize in various fields, i.e., surgery, gynaecology, dermatology, etc..

Training for the specialised fields takes approximately four years, after which an examination is written in order to qualify as a specialist.
 
To practice in Namibia, medical doctors must also register with the Medical Board of Namibia.
 
No training is currently possible in Namibia, but students can enrol for a B. Sc. degree at UNAM with subjects such as Molecular and Physiological Biology, Mathematics and Physics. After completion of the first year, students can then apply for credits at a South African university, where they can complete their medical degree.

Personality
The prospective medical doctor should be emotionally balanced, tactful, able to work fast and accurately (also under pressure), make quick decisions and be physically fit.

Work Opportunities
Medical doctors are employed by private and state hospitals/clinics or by the government or large private companies. Self-employment is a viable option after sufficient experience has been gained.

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