Medical School in Thailand

[Aidan2]

Hi,

I am very confused about the topic of Medical schooling in Thailand.

Some people have been saying that to become a doctor or a cosmetic surgeon you need a 4 year Bachelor's degree and THEN a 4 year medical degree, while others say that you go straight to a 6 year medical degree right after high school. So, which one is it? 

 

Finally, can I get some recommendations on the best Universities for a Medical degree and their tuition fees?

Thank you sincerely. 

[Gulfsailor]

After high school straight into med school. I think it's 5 or 6 years. Then a couple of years residency, after that another 3-5 years depending on specialization. 

Best in a Thailand are Mahidol, followed by Chulalongkorn. Both around 30 positions open per year in the Thai program and another 30 or so in the international program. Tuition fees around 150,000 per year for the Thai program for the first few years. Very hard to get in though. 

 

[Andrew Wang]

Hi yes I just applied and that seems to be the case

 

Mahidol has an international division now?

[Aidan2]

How many years of education is required to become a plastic surgeon? Is extra education required, or just the 5-6 years of medical school?

 

Thanks again

[Andrew Wang]

10 minutes ago, Aidan2 said:

How many years of education is required to become a plastic surgeon? Is extra education required, or just the 5-6 years of medical school?

 

Thanks again

Yes 5- 6 years of medical school, then you can specialise but youll be working!

[Aidan2]

how long does it take to specialise? Does that require additional education after the 5-6 years?

Edited July 31, 2018 by Aidan2

[Gulfsailor]

2 hours ago, Aidan2 said:

how long does it take to specialise? Does that require additional education after the 5-6 years?

Specialization takes another 6-8 years. The studying is combined with the residency, so at least you'll get a (tiny) salary during those extra years. 

[Aidan2]

In places like, say, Bumrungrad International Hospital, do doctors with plastic surgery degrees commonly perform cosmetic procedures? Because apparently there is a difference between plastic and cosmetic surgeons. In America, the doctors are very specialised. For example, sometimes plastic surgeons only perform hand operations. Is this the case for Thailand, or do doctors perform a variety of procedures (specifically plastic surgeons)? 

[Aidan2]

(Sorry for asking so many questions)

Especially if they receive a Thai education, are foreigners allowed to work in Thailand as a plastic surgeon?

[Gulfsailor]

4 hours ago, Aidan2 said:

(Sorry for asking so many questions)

Especially if they receive a Thai education, are foreigners allowed to work in Thailand as a plastic surgeon?

Yes, if he/she has successfully completed his med exams in Thailand. Please note that some of these exams are in Thai, so one needs to have a (near) fluent grasp of the Thai language to stand a chance of passing. There are not many foreign doctors practicing in Thailand.

as for specialization, the doctors at the more renowned places have done these abroad. Also note that certain specialization are a rather closed group which is difficult to fetch into without the proper network or last name. You'd really need a postgraduate degree from a renowned foreign medschool/hospital to be allowed in as an outsider. Plastic surgery seems to be one of those from what I heard. 

 

Ps. My daughter wants to get into med school (Mahidol preferred) as she wants to be a surgeon, so we have been looking into most of the above things. But she's Thai so that makes things a bit easier. Still a couple years for her to finish her A levels, so we have time to figure it all out. 

[soleddy]

Med School is 6 years here. Then you get your MD...which is odd, because in Europe you qualify with MBBS or MBChB and do 1 year pre-registration houseman job (clerking and taking bloods). You can call yourself Doctor but you are not really senior at all. There are different systems of residency (in USA you are a junior intern first). From graduation age 24-5 it takes 8 or more years (i have heard 10-12 in some places) to be a consultant Plastic Surgeon, as an example, because the money is there (there are always Ferraris parked on yellow lines at Bumrungrad). For something like this, you need the right connections and name PLUS a 9-12 month course in Chicago or Pittsburgh to learn the higher tecniques. On the other hand, you can be a dermatologist in less time and with just an exam from a local board. Or you can be a GP and open a 'shop' (we have 2 in my road).

 

Yes, about 70% of the exams here are in Thai--no good for most people (except Thais!)

 

Yes, if you are a Thai wishing to work in US or UK you need to pass the specialised medical exams. Some of the test books are in Kinokuria. You need the language to be IELTS 8-9 as well as being able to explain the Kreb's Cycle in English.

 

Mahidol and then Chula are the tops (same as dentistry), although there are "odd" places which train doctors. Thammasat at Rangsit has started to take people, and (as I understand) Rangsit University, which normally does Tourism, Chefs or Sports Science. There is a place in deepest Esaan which does doctoring, as does Songklha (both have good names).

 

Very few non-Thais are allowed to train here. It is also very HiSo. How many boys or girls from a Rice farm up north are consultants at Chula? None. Ferrari? Nope. It is getting a little better...although when I was teaching Med Studs at CU 15 years ago I did a quick straw poll: 50% of the kids had Mom, dad or both doctors. Another 20% had dentists or nurses as Mom or dad. 50% admitted that money and kudos were bigger goals than helping the sick.

 

As a medical tourism hub, it is getting better and dearer here. All the big places are owned by the same people anyway. India should always be on your list for cheap and excellent surgery. Korea or Taiwan (I can't remember...) are known for plastic/cosmetic. Poland is getting a good name for complex bone surgery now.

 

However, if I need complex brain surgery, take me to Queen's Square in London.

 

 

[soleddy]

It may be worth repeating here that med students do 4 years of class-work and exams. They are not taken to see patients until well into the 4th year or even the 5th. This long period of class study is known as Pre-Clin (pre-clinical). They will do ward rounds with registrars and consultants who will sometimes "grill" them. Nowhere in the world can you "become" a plastic surgeon after 5 -6 years in med sch.

 

The 5-6 years of medical school are an apprenticeship. If you build cars for 5 years, you can build a jeep, but your boss is not gonna allow you to strip out and rebuild a Rolls Royce. Nobody can become 'anything' until they have done 5-8-10 years AFTER med sch and have chosen the area of specialisation AND been allowed "in". Not everyone is allowed to be a brain surgeon. Different areas of medicine require different skills and attitudes. A forensic pathologist works with the police and mortuary staff to open up dead people and calculate blood loss and splatter. A neonatal paediatrician works with tiny pre-born babies that weigh as much as a potato, to keep them alive (and loses some as well). A psychiatrist (also a doctor who must go to med sch.) obviously needs completely different skills.

 

Many young med. students change their minds after a few years. I know one student who wanted to be a psychiatrist but opted for heart surgery in the end. I know another who quit completely to become a musician.

 

When you consider that the whole route to a Ferrari takes 15 years of exams, mistakes, boredom, interrupted sleep and broken relationships, you wonder why anyone gives up 25% of their life just to get that far.

 

[Number 6]

On 7/30/2018 at 8:50 PM, Gulfsailor said:

After high school straight into med school. I think it's 5 or 6 years. Then a couple of years residency, after that another 3-5 years depending on specialization. 

Best in a Thailand are Mahidol, followed by Chulalongkorn. Both around 30 positions open per year in the Thai program and another 30 or so in the international program. Tuition fees around 150,000 per year for the Thai program for the first few years. Very hard to get in though. 

 

Pretty much this although I do disagree or shall i say my students overwhelmingly disagree with Mahidol being #1. That would be Chulalongkorn