Medical courses and their salary in Nigeria

Medical courses and their salary in Nigeria. Top 20 medical courses in Nigeria.

Medical science is the science that deals with the maintenance of health, prevention and treatment of diseases, as well as the recovery and rehabilitation of patients. A medical scientist is one who studies disease processes and how to prevent and treat them.

In Nigeria, Medical courses in Universities fall under the faculties of science and health science as some medical courses such as Biochemistry and Microbiology are still considered to be normal science courses.

In some universities (Obafemi Awolowo University in particular) Medical courses can be found under the College of Health Sciences (COHS) with different faculties of medical courses under it.

Top 20 medical courses in Nigeria

In no particular order:

1. Anatomy
2. Medical Biochemistry
3. Medicine and Surgery
4. Nursing
5. Medical Radiography and Radiology
6. Dentistry and Dental Surgery
7. Human Nutrition and Dietetics
8. Medical Rehabilitation (Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy)
9. Optometry
10. Veterinary Medicine
11. Medical Laboratory Science
12. Medical Microbiology
13. Public and Community Health
14. Physiology
15. Biomedical Technology
16. Prosthesis and Orthopaedic Technology
17. Pathology
18. Pharmacy
19. Plaster Technicians
20. Medical Records
21. Paramedics
22. Anaesthetic Technicians

Medical courses and their salary in Nigeria

1. Medical Microbiology; Medical Microbiology is a branch of medical science concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases caused by microorganisms. It involves the various applications of microbes for the improvement of health. It is also called Clinical Microbiology.

Medical Microbiologists provide a consultancy service to clinical colleagues regarding care of patients with suspected infection. Medical Microbiologists who work in government owned medical institutions earn about 80,000-120,000 while their colleagues in private institutions earn about 50,000-80,000 per month.

2. Medical Laboratory Science; Medical laboratory science is the use of chemical laboratory tests to detect, diagnose, monitor, and treat diseases. Blood, tissue, and body fluids can be chemically analyzed and examined for foreign organisms and abnormalities.

A Medical laboratory scientist aims to analyze a variety of biological specimens. The decision of a physician regarding a patient’s diagnosis, hospital admission, treatment, and discharge is heavily dependent on a Medical laboratory scientists report.

The average salary of a Medical Laboratory Scientist in Nigeria is about 123,000 naira per month though this may vary depending on employer, location, the type of institution and experience.

3. Medical Biochemistry; Medical Biochemistry is a branch of science that deals with the chemical processes within and outside of living things. Biochemistry is a laboratory based science that combines biology and chemistry. Medical Biochemistry aims to understand the mechanisms that are the basis of life by describing the structure and function of bio-molecules.

It is the discipline that attempts to understand the workings of ourselves and our interactions with nature from the direction of both the physical sciences and biological sciences. In government hospitals, Medical Biochemists averagely earn about 120,000 naira -180,000 naira while those in private hospitals earn about 50,000 naira -120,000 naira depending on level and experience.

4. Biomedical Technology; Biomedical Technology is the application of engineering and technology principles to the domain of living or biological systems, with and emphasis on human health and diseases. It is also called Biomedical engineering or Bioengineering. A person working as Bioengineer in Nigeria typically earns about 285,000 naira per month. Salaries range from 148,000 naira to 436,000 naira (including hosing, transports, and other benefits).

5. Optometry; Optometry is a specialized healthcare profession that involves examining the eyes and related structures for defects or abnormalities. Optometrists are healthcare professionals who typically provide comprehensive primary eye care. The average monthly salary of Optometrists in Nigeria is around 90,000 naira to about 150,000 naira. However, income may soar above that (up to 300,000 naira monthly) as most optometrists tend to own their private clinics.

6. Dentistry and Dental Surgery; Dentistry is a branch of medicine that consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions of the oral cavity, commonly in the dentition as well as the oral mucosa, and of adjacent and related structures and tissues, particularly in the associated maxillofacial area. The average monthly salary of Dentists and Maxillofacial surgeons is about 800,000 naira to 1,500,000 naira after tax.

7. Physiotherapy; Physiotherapy is the treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage, heat treatment, and exercise rather than by drugs or surgery. A physiotherapist helps people affected by injury, illness or disability through movement and exercise, manual therapy, education and advice.
A Physiotherapist working in Nigeria averagely earns about 270,000 naira per month. Income of Physiotherapists may also be higher because of their ability to offer private services to patients which may sometimes be more expensive than the normal hospital Physiotherapy appointments.

8. Medical Radiography; Radiography is the art and science of using radiation to produce images of the tissues, organs, bones and vessels that the human body is comprised of. It is an imaging technique using X-rays, gamma rays, or similar ionizing and non ionizing radiation to view the internal form of the body.

On average, a Radiographer earns between 100,000 naira to 150,000 naira per month for a start in a federal setting and about 75,000 naira to 110,000 per month in state hospitals and private clinical laboratories.

9. Radiology; Radiology is a branch of medicine that uses imaging technology to diagnose and treat disease. Radiology may be divided into two different areas; Diagnostic radiology and Interventional Radiology. Diagnostic Radiology involves viewing structures inside the body, doctors that specialise in the interpretation of these images are Diagnostic Radiologists. On average, a Radiologist who is just starting out earns about 452,000 per month while an experienced Radiologist earns about 1,450,000 per month.

10. Nursing; Nursing is a field of medical science which is focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain or recover optimal health and quality of life. It also involves the collaborative and autonomous care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings.

The typical Registered Nurse salary is about 109,500 naira to about 440,000 naira as an experienced nurse. When factoring in additional pay and benefits a Registered Nurse in Nigeria can expect their pay value to be on an average of 210,000 naira.

11. Medicine and Surgery; Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health.

Medicine encompasses a variety of healthcare practices evolved to to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness. Doctors and Surgeons earn 292,000 naira to 1,340,000 naira per month. This is the average lowest and highest salaries including housing, transport, and other benefits.

12. Human Nutrition and Dietetics; Nutrition and Dietetics is a sub discipline of Medicine which is the science that focuses on everything related to food and its effects on our health and overall wellbeing. Nutritionists and Dieticians aim to improve people’s health through food and help them make better dietary choices. A Dietician earns 31,204 naira to 105,335 naira monthly on average at the start of the job.

13. Pharmacy; Pharmacy is the clinical health science that links medicine with chemistry and it is charged with the discovery, production, disposal, safe and effective use and control of medications and drugs.

A Pharmacist is a well trained health professional who is responsible for the management and distribution of medicines and ha the scientific knowledge to counsel patients on how to correctly use medicines and the potential side effects. On the average, an entry level Pharmacist may earn 100,000 naira to 170,000 naira.

However the starting salary for government staff is around 165,000 to 300,000 per month which is reviewed after three to four years.

Olayinka Shyllon

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