BSc Clinical Medicine Program Offered at Egerton University

The program for training of Clinical Officers has been conducted by the Government of Kenya for many years to provide health care services in Kenya. This training started at certificate level in 1928 until 1967 when the diploma program was introduced. In the late 70‘s specialization at Higher Diploma level in Ear Nose and Throat, Pediatrics, Ophthalmology and others were started. Members of this profession are responsible for preventive, promotive, and curative health care services in Kenya. The graduates of the program will therefore play vital roles in the health care service provision as skilled personnel withindepth understanding of the basic sciences as foundation for clinical courses and adequate skills in management and leadership in community health. The Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine course of Egerton University will offer opportunities to Clinical Officers for further academic development and at the same time improve standards of health care services in the country.
Clinical Officers have continued to play vital roles as clinicians and managers not only in rural facilities but also in the running of district, provincial and national hospitals. Training Clinical Officers at a higher level is one way of raising the standards of health care delivery to Kenyans since they provide about 80% of health services especially in the rural areas. It is envisaged that the BSc graduate in Clinical Medicine will apply critical thinking and come up with practical solutions to solve the various patients or clients‘ health problems and needs. The improvement in the services will be achieved through incorporation of the knowledge, skills and attitude acquired.
The program has been designed to recognize that its graduates will have an advanced training in basic sciences, clinical and community health in order to provide health care that will integrate curative and preventive health care. This program will also give an opportunity for the practicing Clinical Officers to upgrade their education and skills while opening avenues for the graduates to advance in postgraduate and research areas. Unlike the graduates of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, the Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine will operate as clinicians capable of providing general medical and community preventive care. To become doctors, they will require more training in surgical skills. The professional practice of Clinical Officers is regulated by an Act of parliament (Cap. 260 of the Laws of Kenya) which is charged with training, registration
and licensing. This ensures that high standards are maintained during training and practice while observing professional ethics of conduct.

The aim of this program is to equip the learners with the knowledge, skills and attitude to harness and implement clinical skills, conduct research and be able to advance academically in order to provide and improve the health delivery from the rural health facilities all the way to the National and International levels.
Specific Objectives
This course is designed to:

• Equip students with analytical critical thinking and problem solving skills in clinical practice.
• Equip students with both theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to provide curative, preventive, promotive, and rehabilitative services to the community.
• Equip students with knowledge and skills to conduct community diagnosis and research.
• Prepare students for academic and professional progression to higher levels of studies in their fields of specialization.
• Develop basic skills in Management, leadership and supervision of staff in health care delivery system.

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the prescribed course of the study for Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine, the graduates will have acquired knowledge and skills to be able to:

• Demonstration of professionalism in decision-making, clinical reasoning within the health care system
• Demonstration of clinical skills, practical procedures, patient investigations and management skills.
• Demonstration of research skills to promote Community Health and disease prevention
• Application of ethical, legal, and behavioral (attitudinal) principles in the practice of clinical medicine
• Demonstration of leadership, managerial skills and enhancement of personal, academic and professional development.

Candidates wishing to study for the Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Medicine shall have met the minimum University entry requirements as stipulated in the Egerton University Statutes.
In addition they should meet the following Faculty requirements;
Applicants must have attained a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) mean grade of B (Minus) or its equivalent and passed in the subject cluster as indicted here below:

• Biology B (Minus)
• Chemistry B (Minus)
• Mathematics or Physics B (Minus)
• English or Kiswahili B (Minus)

OR
Advanced level or equivalent with a minimum of two principal passes in Biology and Chemistry and a subsidiary pass in Mathematics or Physics.
OR
Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery candidates who have passed with at least a ―credit‖ and above plus mean grade of C (Plain) in KCSE or equivalent or relevant health related medical course from an institution recognized by Egerton University Senate. Clinical Officers with a Higher National Diploma in a related discipline who will need to enroll in this program will have an added advantage.
A maximum forty percent (40%) credit transfer of the Senate approved credit factors towards the requirements for the degree program will be given where applicable.

All courses in the Bachelor of Clinical Medicine program shall be compulsory unless the Faculty Board recommends exemption and the Senate approves.
The Bachelor of Clinical Medicine shall extend over a period of 180 weeks divided into 4 academic years of 45 weeks each for regular students with total of 251.0 CFs.
Bachelor of Clinical Medicine (In-service) shall extend over a period of 127 weeks divided into two and half academic years of 45 weeks each with total of 175 CFs.
The academic session for the course of Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine shall be in trimesters. Each trimester shall comprise 15 weeks.
There will be compulsory community health attachment during third year of the academic study for all students which will cover 8 weeks for community diagnosis and 4 weeks of Health Service Management

Egerton University is the oldest institution of higher learning in Kenya. It was founded as a Farm School in 1939 by Lord Maurice Egerton of Tatton, a British national who settled in Kenya in the 1920s.

Egerton University has three (3) Campuses and one Campus College.

The main Campus is based at ... read more