Medical Universities (Myanmar)

Overview
There are four medical universities in Myanmar. They are:-


 * 1) University Of Medicine-1, Yangon
 * 2) University Of Medicine-2, Yangon
 * 3) University Of Medicine, Mandalay
 * 4) University Of Medicine, Magway

University Of Medicine-1, Yangon
The University of Medicine-1, formerly the Institute of Medicine-1, is the oldest of four medical institutions in Myanmar (formerly Burma). Its students are selected from those who graduate with the highest science scores in the matriculation examination. The university offers an M.B.B.S. equivalent of the M.D. degree. The University of Medicine-1 has three major campuses: (1) Lanmadaw Township campus, (2) Pyay Road campus, and (3) Thaton Road campus.

History
A course in medical science was first introduced in Burma in 1923-24 at Rangoon College, on the premises of the Rangoon General Hospital. In 1929, the classes were moved to the present building in Lanmadaw Township, the foundation of which was laid by Sir Harcourt Butler, on 2 February 1927. The medical college became a constituent college of the University of Rangoon in 1930.

From 1942 to 1945, during the World War II, there was a temporary suspension of the M.B.,B.S. course. A modified course was conducted instead, on the successful completion of which the Licentiate of the State Medical Board (L.S.M.B) was conferred. Although the medical college building remained intact, all the laboratory equipment, and all the mounts and specimens collected in the Pathology and Forensic Medicine Department Museums were completely destroyed, and valuable books from the College library were also lost.

After the war, all the constituent colleges of the reconstituted Rangoon University became Faculties, and the Medical College became the Faculty of Medicine, under the administration of the Dean.

On promulgation of the University Education Act in May, 1964, the Institutes of Medicine were established. In 1973, the administration of the three medical Institutes and the Institute of Dental Medicine was transferred to the Ministry of Health, and came under the direct control of the Department of Medical Education, now known as the Department of Health Manpower.

Post-graduate courses were instituted at the three Institutes of Medicine in 1964, the Dean of the courses being responsible to the Rector for their organization and administration. With the addition of new courses in 1970, the Board of Postgraduate Medical Studies came under the administration of the Director. With the institution of the Department of Medical Education in 1973, the Board has been under the direct charge of the Director-General of the Department of Medical Education, now known as the Department of Health Manpower.

Reproduced from Handbook of Institute of Medicine (1) Yangon (1991-1992)


 * 1) the General Medical Council of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) recognised the M.B.,B.S. degree of the Rangoon University and hence Rangoon Medical College in 1937 so that our medical graduates did not need to sit for LRCP & MRCS before working in UK or before pursuing further studies like MRCP & FRCS.Sayagyi U Aye got M.B.,B.S. in 1936 so he had to sit for LRCP & MRCS. Sayagyi Aye U Ko Gyi passed M.B.,B.S. in 1937 so that he could study DOMS straight.
 * 2) The medical course at Rangoon Medical College could be started only in 1923/24 academic year due to the Rangoon University students' first strike. So our pioneers in medicine like U Ba Than, Colonel Min Sein, Daw Yin May and U Maung Gale had to study in Calcutta and got M.B. (Calcutta), not M.B.,B.S. (Calcutta). Professor Dr Khin Maung Win (Pathologist) was a graduate of Bombay University, and hence his first degree was M.B.,B.S. (Bombay). Dr Maung Maung Taik got M.B.,B.S. from University of  Lucknow.
 * 3) L.S.M.B. course was introduced only for a short time and the recipients were only three. I remember Professor U Aung Than of Dental College and Professor Daw Phayt of Microbiology as the two recipients of LSMB. The other person was probably Col. Myint Aung, the military surgeon and first professor of surgery at IM2.
 * 4) The students of L.M.P. (Licentiate of Medical Practice) were also taught at the Rangoon Medical College.The successful students were appointed as sub-assistant surgeons, a rank lower than the M.B.,B.S. graduates.
 * 5) A condensed course for M.B.,B.S. degrees for the LMPs were also run at the Rangoon Medical College. Col Hla Han is one of the successful LMP students to earn an M.B.,B.S. degree.Professor U Aung Nyunt of Mandalay was another LMP who passed the condensed course.  Addendum (2) by Dr Maung Maung Nyo. The Medical College of Yangon, the foremost medical institution in the Far East before the World War II and after. Actually, the Institute of Medicine 1 and hence the former Medical College is the mother institute of all other institutes of medicine in Burma including the Institute of Dental Medicine. The Medical Faculty of Rangoon University (as the our medical college was formally called after independence) opened the Branch Faculty of Medicine (BMF) in Mandalay in 1954 that became the Institute of Medicine Mandalay in 1964. The professors of Anatomy and Physiology were also appointed as the part-time professor and head of respective subjects in Medical College 2, Mingaladon until that college became Institute of Medicine 2, Yangon in 1964. The Dental College was also first opened as a constituent of the faculty of medicine and it later became the Institute of Dental Medicine in 1964. The basic sciences of dental medicine were taught by the departments of anatomy and physiology, later of biochemistry until lately up to 1992. Now, all the first Deans of all the Institutes of Medicine and Dental Medicine in Burma were the graduates of our Medical Faculty.

Courses Offer And Degree Awarded
The M.B.,B.S. course work extends over seven years.

Subjects taught
First M.B.,B.S.

Language & Communication
 * Burmese
 * English


 * Biomedical Sciences
 * Mathematics & statistics
 * Physics
 * Chemistry
 * Botany
 * Zoology
 * Introduction of Human Anatomy
 * Physiology and Biochemistry
 * Personal Professional Development
 * Behaviour Sciences
 * Concepts in Family & Communication Medicine

Second M.B.,B.S.
 * Anatomy
 * Physiology
 * Biochemistry

Third M.B.,B.S. 
 * General pathology and haematology
 * Microbiology
 * Pharmacology

Students are also posted for six months each to the medical and surgical wards for clinical training.

Final M.B.,B.S. Part I
 * Forensic Medicine
 * Preventive and Social Medicine (with three weeks residential field training in the rural areas).
 * Systemic Pathology

Students attend lectures & clinics in Medicine, Surgery, Child health, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and posted to the various teaching hospitals, including posting in Department of Preventive and Social Medicine for visiting Urban Health facilities.

Final M.B.,B.S. Part II
 * Child Health
 * Medicine
 * Obstetrics & Gynaecology
 * Surgery

Students are bound to classroom study in the first 6 months while they are rotated in the allied specialities, namely, eye, ear, nose & throat diseases, urology, neurology, tuberculosis, venereal diseases, orthopaedics and traumatology, skin diseases, mental health and psychiatry, oro-maxillo-facial surgery, radiology, radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, anaesthesiology, thoracic surgery, and paediatric surgery. Students are attached to hospitals in later one year while studying in clinical rotations.

A summative examination is held at the end of the Final M.B.,B.S.Part II course. Problem Based Learning (PBL), Community Based Learning (CBL) and Behavioural Science will be incorporated, as relevant, in the M.B.,B.S. course.

House Surgeon Training

All students, upon successful completion of the Final Part II examination, continue to receive hands-on training for a period of one year as house surgeons in one of the recognized Teaching Hospitals in Yangon and / or the State and Division Hospitals. Training Periods are as follows: -


 * MB.,B.S. Degree was conferred to the candidates a year after the final part II examination in the past, but is only after completion of House-Surgeon ship nowadays.

Improvements and changes
M.B.,B.S. COURSE (1930)

Yangon University passed a new curriculum for M.B., B.S. degree course with a slight alteration in program structure of 1923 curriculum. There was no change in 1st M.B., course. The teaching of Physical and Organic chemistry in second M.B. course was shortened to six months.

The 3rd M.B.,B.S. course was of one year duration and consisted of:
 * 1) Materia medica and Pharmacology
 * 2) General and Special Pathology including Medical Zoology and Bacteriology
 * 3) Morbid Anatomy including attendance to all post-mortem examination for three months.
 * 4) Morbid Histology
 * 5) Elementary Bacteriology and Medical Zoology
 * 6) Clinical clerkship

The final M.B.,B.S. course was two years and it was divided into two parts (The Final Part I and the Final Part II M.B.,B.S.): The subjects taught in the Final Part I course were:


 * 1) Forensic Medicine (including medico-legal post-mortem examination)
 * 2) Hygiene and vaccination (including Practical Hygiene).

The examination was held at the end of one year.

The course leading to Part II of the final M.B.,B.S. examination was as follows:
 * 1) Systemic Medicine
 * 2) Systemic Surgery
 * 3) Systemic Midwifery
 * 4) Applied anatomy and physiology
 * 5) Outpatient clerkship - 4 months
 * 6) Special Departments

Three months - Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Two months - Venereal Diseases & Skin
 * 1) Maternity Hospital - 3 months
 * 2) Clinical clerkship in medicine & Surgery

To fulfil the regulation of General Medical Council of Great Britain the instructions on child welfare, prenatal care and causes of excessive infantile mortality had to be included.

The candidate who failed in any one of the M.B., B.S. examinations could transfer himself to L.M. & S. course, if desired to do so. But candidates who had passed the L.M. & S. course were not granted any concession to enable them to follow a modified course leading to the degree of M.B.,B.S.

(Ref. University Regulation, 1930, Chapter 15, p. 207)

The General Medical Council of Great Britain was again requested to reconsider the University's application for the recognition of its M.B., B.S. Degree as registrable qualification in Great Britain. The Committee of the General Medical Council informed the University that it was not expedient or just to accede to the request of the University.

(Ref. Report of the E.C. of the council of the University, 1930-31)

M.B.,B.S. COURSE (1935-36)

The prospectus of the Medical College of the University of Rangoon (1935-1936) stated that the duration of M.B., B.S. course was seven years (previously six years) from the time of matriculation - two years of pre-medical and five years of medical studies proper.

A candidate for admission into Medical College, had to pass the First M.B., B.S. course that normally extended over two years or one of the examinations recognized by the General Medical Council of Great Britain as prerequisite education.

There was no change in Second M.B., B.S. course but the subjects taught in clinical years were rearranged as follows:

The Third M.B., B.S.
 * 1) Materia Medica & Pharmacology
 * 2) Bacteriology & Medical Zoology

The Final Part I M.B.,B.S.
 * 1) Pathology
 * 2) Forensic Medicine
 * 3) Hygiene and Public health

The Final Part II M.B.,B.S.
 * 1) Medicine
 * 2) Surgery
 * 3) Obstetrics & Gynaecology

In the previous curriculum, Bacteriology and Medical Zoology were taught under Pathology in Third M.B.,B.S. course. The teaching of Pathology was carried out in the Final Part I in 1935-36 curriculum.

Some of the rules for the students stated that the students who were absent without leave would be removed from the college and no student would be allowed to sit for a University Examination unless his attendance, work and conduct had been certified to be satisfactory by the Professor or Lecturer in each subject for which the student was appearing for the examination.

During the three years of clinical study, (i.e. starting from Third M.B.,B.S.) the students had to work in the outpatient departments and the wards of the Rangoon General Hospital, and attend post-mortem examinations, clinics and surgical operations. They performed clinical duties under the supervision of the members of the staff of hospital who were also staff of the Medical College. The students were posted for a period of continuous duty at the Dufferin Hospital for training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The course of medical study was planned to conform to the requirements of the General Medical Council of Great Britain.

After passing the Final part II examination one could register as a medical practitioner with the Burma Medical Council. The M.B., B.S. degree was registrable in India and Burma. It was also anticipated that registration in Great Britain could be made in the near future.

The internship was not compulsory but the graduates were strongly recommended to spend a year at least as a House-physician or Surgeon in a well equipped hospital in order to gain experience and confidence in solving the problems that may be encountered in general practice. Only about ten posts were available a year in selected Civil General Hospitals in Burma. They were given an allowance of 75 rupees (75 Myanma kyats) per month.

The majority of graduates entered the private practice. Few posts were available in the Government Service; the Burma Railways, the Corporation of Rangoon and certain large commercial enterprises such as the Burmah Oil Co., the Irrawaddy Flotilla Co., Burma Corporation, Indo-Burma Petroleum Co.. The initial pay ranged from 200 to 400 rupees per month according to the nature of the duties and qualification of the applicants.

(Ref. The Medical College of University of Rangoon Prospectus 1935-36)

University Of Medicine, Mandalay
The University of Medicine, Mandalay (formerly called Institute of Medicine, Mandalay) is one of four medical schools in Myanmar (formerly Burma). Unlike most tertiary education institutes, the Institute of Medicine is operated and managed by the Ministry of Health. The Institute of Medicine, Mandalay admits approximately 600 students annually, on the basis of scores from their Basic Education High School Examination (in science). Diplomas offered are M.B.,B.S. (US equivalent of M.D.)

History
The Institute of Medicine, Mandalay was first founded as a branch of the Faculty of Medicine, of Mandalay University. In 1955, it relocated to its present site in Chan Aye Thar Zan Township in Mandalay.

The departments were established in phases. Departments of Anatomy and Physiology in 1954, Departments of Pharmacology, Pathology, Bacteriology, Medicine and Surgery in 1956, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Forensic Medicine and the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat in 1957. On the first of July 1958 The Branch Faculty of Medicine became the Faculty of Medicine, Mandalay. The microbiology department was established in 1960. In 1964 the Faculty of Medicine was upgraded to the Institute of Medicine, Mandalay and the department of child health was established in the same year. The new system of medical education was implemented since 1964 and premedical courses were started with the establishment of departments of Myanmar, English, Chemistry, Physics, Zoology and Botany in the First M.B.,B.S class. The department of biochemistry was established as a separate entity in 1987. Finally the department of orthopedics was created in 1990. The foundation stone of the present building complex was laid in 1983 and its construction has been completed in 1991.

Initially, the Mandalay General Hospital was the one of the teaching hospitals of the Institute such as 300 bedded hospital,worker's hospital. At present, No. 1 Base Military Hospital of Pyin U Lwin, Mandalay Workers Hospital, five specialty hospitals in Mandalay and five state and divisional general hospitals, and recently, Mandalay 300-bed Teaching Hospital—altogether thirteen hospitals are now affiliated to the Institute.

The Institute started with an intake of thirty-six undergraduate students which has now increased to about 700-1000 per year. Postgraduate courses were started in 1968 with master degree programs in Physiology. The Institute is now conducting twelve diploma courses, nineteen master degree courses, eleven doctor of medical science courses and seven Ph.D. courses.

The head of the Mandalay university is professor Dr. Kyaw Hla.

Course
The whole course is the same as the major course of University Of Medicine-1, Yangon.