The MSU-IMS medical program @ Bangalore


Regarding the MBBS program in IMS Bangalore, we study medicine via the traditional method (as with most Indian medical program) and not via problem based learning (PBL).

The program structure is like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_college_in_India

Program structure for MSU-IMS MBBS (Click below):



The study environment can be stressful at most of the time (if I say otherwise, I'd be lying to you, its medicine after all). All Indian MBBS program are 4.5years plus compulsory 1 year housemanship (total 5.5years).

- There are 3 phases in the Indian MBBS program. First phase (aka First MBBS), second phase (aka Second MBBS), third phase (consist of part-1 and part-2). Then comes the compulsory 1 year housemanship. If a student fails any of the subject within a particular phase, he/she will NOT be allowed to proceed to the next phase and have to repeat the exam again - exception in Third MBBS. (max repeat phase - twice for the entire program)

Clinical postings and theory classes

- Clinical postings begin at the second year (after passing the first MBBS professional exam).

- Clinical postings (for second and third MBBS students) and clinical lectures are conducted in hospitals (for third MBBS students). Theory classes are conducted in the the IMS campus (for first and second MBBS students).

- For me, morning is for clinical postings (surgery, medicine, ENT, OBG, etc..) - It starts from 9.00AM - 11.45AM (may differ). Clinical posting is where most of the clinical teachings are done (eg; history taking, clinical examinations, etc). On alternate days, there is the Community medicine subject/posting. Clinical postings include Saturdays as well.

- In the evening, theory classes starts at 1.00PM and ends at 5.00PM. The subjects taught in the evening will depend on which phase you are in.

- Currently there are three different hospitals for clinical postings. College Buses are provided for the students to go for their clinical postings.

Exposure and Hands-on training

- First year students get to dissect real human cadavers and can even get real human remains (skulls and bones) to bring back to their rooms for study (hey~ thats India for you~  ).







- I am currently satisfied with the level of exposure and training provided in IMS Bangalore. Hands-on training on patients begins at the second year onwards during clinical postings. One can examine patients all they want in the hospital. Lots of strange and rare cases can be seen here. You can even see lepers (leprosy) walking around in the streets even today in India.







The People, surroundings and climate

- There is a LOT of people in Bangalore. If you think KL is crowded, wait until you see Bangalore. There is a wide gap between the rich and the poor here. Some are extremely and pathetically poor - from these people, we often get rare medical cases that doesn't even exist anymore in Malaysia. Additional info - here - women will be seen doing construction work.

- People can be good (particularly the educated ones) and can be bad as well.Eg; some people here in Bangalore will take advantage of you, seeing that you are a foreigner and a new one at that (this is particularly true for auto rickshaw drivers). Corruption is rampant, some of the police will ask/hint for a bribe, although they are more cautious about this when dealing with foreigners.

- Beggars... there are a lot of them here... various kinds too... they some how can sense if you are new to Bangalore and will persistently follow you around until they get something out of you. There are even special type of beggars here in India, the "pondans" here often demand money from people - this is due to some belief that the Indians have that these "pondans" can cause misfortune if their demands are not met.

- The Indian men here, have the habit of urinating almost anywhere they like, its like nothing to them. They will even stop in the middle of a traffic jam and urinate on a wall or a tree with their backs facing the entire traffic in full view of everyone on the road. They don't care what wall or tree they piss on. Some of the building owners even put pictures of Hindu Gods, Christian cross or even Muslim symbols on their walls to prevent people from urinating on them.

- Traffic here in Bangalore, suckksssss... Really..... KL traffic is NOTHING compared to how terrible the traffic is in Bangalore. For your information - fuel cost is very high here in India - 1 Liter of Petrol will cost around RM5.50 (Malaysia only RM1.90)

- English is widely spoken amongst the educated here in Bangalore, not all Indians speak the same language, hence English or Hindi is used. All lectures in Indian medical colleges are conducted in English. The uneducated however, will not understand English.

- Surroundings... all I can say .... is dirty in most areas.

- Bangalore is rather a dusty place to live in compared to Malaysia and now will be entering the cold season (no snow though, but it is cold nonetheless). Cold season can cause your lips to crack - its not humid cold but dry and cold. Monsoon doesn't seem to effect much of Bangalore since it is situated far inland. Overall... weather is OK... not as hot as Malaysia...



Food and Housing

- Food is ok once you get use to them. Diarrhea is common for the first few weeks of eating the food here. Food is relatively cheap if you eat Indian food eg; Masala Dhosa, Idli, Chapati, Rasam, Sambar etc... honestly... I've never even heard of most of these food before coming here.... Raw material is cheap if you are planning on cooking everyday...

- MSU-IMS students are placed in one area (Gokula area). Students live in apartments (2 bedrooms to 3 bedrooms apt) on a sharing basis. The apartments are fully furnished (study tables, washing machine, water heater, TV, fridge etc). These apartments are managed by IMS. One room can accommodate 2 students, each paying around RM260/month. The electricity is separate from the rental charge but the water supply is FREE.

- Apartments are not within walking distance (although one can walk to the college - takes about 45 minutes). College buses are available in front of the apartment in the morning to carry the students to the college or to their respective hospitals.

- Additional info, read here:


http://www.tutor.com.my/tutor/dunia.asp?y=...if&pg=ps_01.htm

http://www.tutor.com.my/tutor/dunia.asp?y=...if&pg=ps_02.htm

http://www.tutor.com.my/tutor/dunia.asp?y=...if&pg=ps_03.htm


Medical Books and equipments

- Medical books are cheap here... Seriously...~ I take for example "Bailey & Love: Short Practice Of Surgery", here it cost only Rs2914 (RM215) with the standard price being USD128 (RM446).



- Even medical equipments are cheap - for example~ Wellch Allyn Ophthalmoscope and Otoscope junior set cost above USD400 (http://www.allmed.net/catalog/item/1,417,475,477), but here I got both for just USD245.



- Indian made medical equipments are cheap as well, my stethoscope cost me RM25 only and my mercurial sphygmomanometer (BP set) cost me RM70  ~ Both are reliable nonetheless~ 

- The following is my suturing practice board and my very own microscope (hobby):










.... though I'd like to show more pictures, there is a limit in this forum as to how much picture I can upload per post~
Any inquiries~ do ask~