Medical education in Ghana started in 1962 with the establishment of the University of Ghana Medical School. To meet the growing demand for doctors by the Ghanaian population, the School of Medical Sciences in KNUST was set up in 1975 to train doctors and other health professionals.
This was followed by the establishment of the University for Development Studies (UDS) School of Health Sciences in 2006 to train doctors with a focus on helping to solve the developmental problems in the North of Ghana. In 2009, the University of Cape Coast also set up a medical school with the aim of supplementing the medical education currently provided. Plans are also underway at the University of Health and Allied Sciences, in the Volta Region, to set up a medical school to train doctors for the nation.
There are currently, five public medical schools in Ghana namely:
- The University of Ghana Medical School in Accra
- The KNUST School of Medical Sciences in Kumasi
- University for Development Studies School of Medicine in Tamale
- University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences
- University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho, Volta Region.
And two Accredited Private Medical Schools in Ghana namely:
- Accra College Of Medicine
- Family Health Medical School
Basic Medical education lasts 6 years in all the medical schools. Entry into these medical schools is highly competitive and is usually based on successful completion of the Senior High School Examinations.
Students graduating from any of these medical schools get the MBChB degree and the title “Dr”. For the First 3 years Students are awarded BSc in the field of medical science for University of Ghana medical school; and Human biology for KNUST and UDS medical schools. The University of Ghana Medical School and KNUST School of Medical Sciences in Kumasi use the Tradition medical education model whiles University for Development Studies School of Medicine uses the Problem-based learning model.
Medical graduates are then registered provisionally with the Medical and Dental Council (MDC) of Ghana as House Officers (Interns). Upon completion of the mandatory 2-year housemanship, these medical doctors are permanently registered with the MDC and can practice as medical officers (General Practitioners) anywhere in the country. The housemanship training is done only in hospitals accredited for such purposes by the Medical and Dental Council of Ghana
Following the permanent registration with the medical and dental council, doctors can specialize in any of the various fields that is organized by either the West African college of Physicians and Surgeons or the Ghana College of Physician and Surgeons. Medical officers are also sometimes hired by the Ghana Health Service to work in the Districts/Rural areas as Primary Care Physicians.
7. Family Health Medical School
The Family Health Medical School is another accredited private medical school in Ghana. The school was established in 1997 in Korle Gonno. At first, it started off as a diagnostic center than a nursing school.
In the course of time, the school grew stronger into a renowned medical school where aspiring medical students are trained in Ghana.The school has been equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment. This is aimed at ensuring that students enjoy the best of hands-on-practice while studying. The students produced from this institution are by all standards among the best in the country. Family Health Medical School is open to both Ghanaian students and other international students.
Annual tuition fees at Family Health Medical School is Ghc40,000 and about $12,000 for international students
6. University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences
The school of Medical Sciences at the University of Cape Coast is one of the new medical schools in Ghana. The school started in 2007 as a novel medical school which aims to raise top world leaders in medical and health.
The school has been stocked with functional state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. This medical school prides itself with producing top-notch graduates on a yearly basis. The school also offers a variety of courses within the confines of the medical field.
Annual tuition fees at the University of Cape Coast School of Medicine are $19,000for international students and Ghc14, 000 for local students.
5. Accra College of Medicine
The Accra College of Medicine commenced as a business in December 2013, and was formally launched as a medical school on the 15th of December 2015. Accra College of Medicine is one of the accredited medical schools in Ghana.
The Accra College of Medicine is a notable private medical school. The location of Accra College of Medicine is Rose Avenue, East Legon, Accra, Ghana.This school has been adequately equipped to raise professional medics who will deliver quality health care services to the world populace. This school has well-seasoned lecturers and tutors as well as most recent medical study equipment needed to develop students into world-class personnel.
Its primary aim is to raise leaders in medical and health who will take charge and challenge the numerous health problems which have plagued Ghana and the world in the recent past.as a privately owned medical school, fees are likely to be more expensive than the public-owned medical schools.
Annual tuition fees at this school are $12,000 for local and international students. Other fees: GHC 2800 for local students and GHC 2500 international students.
4. University of Allied Health Sciences
This is one of the newest medical schools in Ghana. It began in Ho, Volta in 2012 with just 154 students. This School of Medicine basically focuses on students willing to study allied medical science courses. University of Allied Sciences offers courses like radiology, laboratory technology, physiotherapy, pathology, medical microbiology, etc. The university is well equipped with laboratories and various modern medical equipment installed in and around the school for adequate learning.
Annual tuition fees at the University of Allied Health Sciences range between $7,000 for local students and $9,000 for international students.
3. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology School of Medical Science
This is a government-owned medical school located in one of the largest cities in Ghana, Kumasi and of course one of the largest schools. To be précised, it is regarded as the second-largest medical school in the whole of Ghana.
The School of Medicine at the Kwame Nkrumah University was established in 1975 just after the Ghana Independence. This medical school has a reputation for producing high-quality graduates who have excelled in different fields of medicine. As of 2016, the school has a total number of about 42, 590 students.
Medical students at this school pay a yearly tuition of Ghana cedis 12,000. Please note that if you are an international student, you may have to pay some extra bucks in addition to this. As of 2011, international students paid $4500.
2. University of Ghana School of Medicine and dentistry.
The University of Ghana School of medicine is the best and the largest medical in Ghana according to reports. October 1962, the first batch of 51 premedical students was admitted into the University of Ghana. Medical education in Ghana started in 1962 with the establishment of the University of Ghana Medical School.
The school was the first-ever medical school set up in the country. This school was built as a result of the increasing health needs of the people of Ghana, to raise more medical doctors who will help contain the needs. This school situated in Korle Bu is a government-owned school and as such has a very high cut in the county’s budget for its maintenance.
The school is usually well funded and regularly replenished with modern medical equipment for better learning. The school has a dental school which is committed to producing first-class doctors and dentists through quality teaching and learning, skills acquisition, research training, and knowledge dissemination. The primary objectives of the School since its inception have therefore been to train a broad-based generalist practitioner with sufficient grounding for subsequent specialization.
Annual tuition fees at the University of Ghana Medical school is Ghc7,000 from students from Ghana. International students may have to pay higher.
- School of Medicine, University of Development Studies
UDS is Ghana’s first public university in the North. The School of Medicine at the University of Development Studies is one of the accredited medical schools established in 1992 found in Tamale, Ghana.
This school is known for its unique teaching pattern as well as its lecturers. University for Development Studies School of Medicine uses the Problem-based learning model. Lecturers at the University of Development Studies School of Medicine aresaid to be very friendly and accommodating. This Government-owned school has stood out due to its mode of operation. It has devised a means of incorporating other health and medical courses like radiology, Laboratory Technology, and Physiotherapy in its curriculum.
Furthermore, this School of Medicine has adopted a different approach to the study of medicine. Currently, the college makes use of the community-based, student-friendly, and real-need approach to ensure that the students are well equipped for their career walk. Facilities found in this school are the latest there is in the field of medical practice. All these are put in place in order to make the learning process easier and more productive for the students.
Annual tuition fees are about GHC 3000 for local students.