It’s not hidden from anyone that MBBS in Russia is considered by many as a safe and legitimate prospect. Whether it’s the quality of the curriculum, pedagogy or the research facilities, medical aspirants from all around the world have had this nation on the top of their lists.
However, not many know the main reasons behind the evergreen nature of the medical colleges here that have been constantly attracting students who plan to study MBBS abroad. This post mainly tries to go deep into history i.e. during the days of the Soviet Union to gauge the main traditions and inspirations behind many of the services offered by the medical universities in Russia.
By doing so, the main purpose of the post is to make the students realize that the superior quality of research, academics and pedagogy in the medical field is not just a temporary burst. In fact, this quality traces its route back to the days when these medical institutions existed on a much smaller scale.
Similarities and Differences with the Medical Curriculum in the Soviet Union
A major reason why there’s such a huge demand for MBBS in Russia is the constantly updating curriculum of the universities. This can be traced back to the practices of the Department of Personnel and Higher Education (Ministry of Health) of the Soviet Union, under whom the curriculum was revised every 5 years.
The only and perhaps the major difference that can be noticed especially by those who come to Russia to study MBBS abroad i.e. foreign students. This difference is that unlike the Soviet days, Marxism and Leninism aren’t taught along with medical disciplines. This is also the case for the subject “Physical Culture”.
Most universities however, have continued the practice of teaching a foreign language to the students (in most cases, Russian to the international students). Some similar medical disciplines taught in Soviet and modern-day Russia include: –
- Biochemistry
- Physiology
- Anatomy
- Physics
- Biology
- Microbiology
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Pediatrics
- Stomatology
- Surgery
- General and Internal Medicine
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Neurology
- Forensics
In both the time periods, adequate time is devoted to the practical application of things. In fact, almost half of the time was devoted to laboratory work since the 1st year itself during the Soviet days. Another important similarity between both these time periods is that the final couple of years (especially 4th and 5th years) are extremely “clinical” in nature and devoted to that purpose.
Continued Medical Education
One of the major factors that makes Russia stand apart from other destinations to study MBBS abroad is the provision of Continued Education which in simple words, are refresher courses for practicing professionals. Candidates can take these courses on a part-time, correspondence or full-time basis.
While some MBBS in Russia colleges are still continuing the Soviet traditions regarding these courses, others have made a few changes or don’t offer the below services at all. These “traditions” include: –
- Economic incentives for the medical professionals taking these courses.
- Salaries as well as travel and subsistence allowances provided as well.
One thing that has continued since the Soviet days is the rise in the salaries of the doctors who have returned to practice after completing these courses.
Unique Features of the Soviet Medical Scene Adopted Today
For this purpose, the post focuses on 2 important features of the medical field in the Soviet Union.
Student Scientific Circles
It won’t be wrong to call this the ancestor of the research societies, journal clubs and the student-led research societies of the medical universities in the present day. The main purpose of these societies is to give a platform to the students to carry out independent research as well as submit their papers and get them published.
The regular symposia, conferences, and seminars that are organized by the MBBS in Russia colleges can also be traced back to these scientific circles. One major difference these societies have from the Soviet times is that in today’s date, these aren’t the huge phenomena (with heavy syllabus and workload!) but a regular and flexible characteristic of Russian medical universities.
Para-Medical Education
Para medical professions mainy include those of nurses, midwives, technicians, radiographers, physiotherapists, lab technicians, and much more. This means that not just in today’s date but since the Soviet days, there has been dedicated pedagogy and infrastructure for these subjects. Just like the regular curriculum as mentioned earlier, the paramedical courses in the Soviet Union also included classes in Marxism and Leninism as well as in Russian history, culture, language, and tradition.
One other difference that students coming to study MBBS abroad in Russia can notice is that paramedical education currently isn’t taught during the schooling years but during the higher education period.
Research and Medical Science
This is perhaps one of the most similar aspects of medical education (including MBBS in Russia) during the Soviet as well as modern-day Russia. This is the quality and variety of research facilities here.
More than 20 different research institutes existed in the Soviet Union, and this has only increased to more than 50 and even a 100 different centers offering various facilities. These facilities could deal with any of the above mentioned subjects that have characterised Soviet and modern Russia.
As mentioned earlier, the main purpose of this post was to ensure that medical aspirants are assured of the fact that Russia is one of the best destinations for MBBS abroad. The legitimacy of this prospect is further accentuated by the fact that this quality isn’t just an overnight success. On the contrary, it’s the result of decades and most likely centuries of reforms and investments towards this direction.
Thus, if you seek to study MBBS abroad and want to secure your future in the medical field at the same time, it would be very advisable to go for medical universities in this country. In simple words, MBBS in Russia is one of the, if not the safest decisions one can make as far as top-notch and legitimate services are concerned.