A first degree in social sciences should be basic in enrollment for medical studies in Uganda, Prof. Charles Olweny the vice chancellor of Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi has said.
He said such admissions would allow the development of mature doctors who would be more relevant to the field in their area of practice after graduating.
Olweny said social science courses are communal and if integrated with medicine can give the medical students a better understanding of the community and improve the services rendered.
“We should think of admitting graduates other than ‘A’ level students, the graduates should have studied psychology, counselling, sociology or languages,†he said.
He was speaking at a public lecture organised by the Makerere University College of Health Sciences at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala on Thursday.
Olweny said fresh students from ‘A’ level were not mature enough for a medical course.
He also said it should be a must for academicians to hold PhDs and MDs while general practitioners should consider studying family medicine.
Olweny also encouraged specialisation in the medical field adding that practitioners should be trained in internal medicine and surgery.
On medical ethics, he said doctors must remain ethical even in a corrupt world.
Olweny also suggested that the title of professors should only be awarded after 25 years of practice.
“People lecture for a few years and call themselves professors, which should not be the case.â€
Prof. Wen Kilama a malarial research expert said Africa must play a major role in developing anti-malarial drugs and devise means to control the spread of the disease.
He said malaria was an obstacle to development and called upon governments to fight it.
‘Medical students should study humanities first’
