Stop comparing Clinical Medicine to other professions.

STOP COMPARING CLINICAL MEDICINE TO OTHER COURSES

This article is sponsored by Medwax Publishers- a medical publishing firm owned by Medwax Corporation Africa Limited.

“Suleiman, why are we not paid well like the medical officers while we perform almost the same things in the hospitals?”

A junior colleague who is in his second year pursuing Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine asked me the above question last week. I didn’t love the question and I have never loved it at all.

The issue of comparison between clinical officers and medical officers has always been a hot topic of discussion. I remember some of classmates giving up on the course from the first days they were enrolled for the Clinical Medicine course. And just a by the way, I pursued BSc in Clinical Medicine in JKUAT and I just graduated last month (June 2018) after 5 years of enjoying and learning this great profession.

Clinical Medicine is a great profession; and so is Medicine and Surgery. The same to Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, Health records, Nursing and every other related course in the health-care industry. There is no greater course than the other. Each and every profession is important in the provision of health care. I have talked more about this in my book-The Medical Mentor, on the last chapter which talks about “Why I would still choose Clinical Medicine?”

There is no course in the world that is better than the other. Everyone requires another in order to function effectively.

For instance, for the theatre to function effectively you require the surgeon to be there to perform the surgery. The surgeon requires the anaesthetist who is in most cases the clinical officer. If not, the patient would possibly have been referred to the surgeon by the clinical officer. The patient requires the aid of the nurse for provision of pre and post-operative care. The laboratory technician would be important for all investigations to be done. The radiographer is of very unique importance in performing radiological procedures. The records of the patient cannot be effective if the health records officer is not present. That social worker is important if the patient isn’t unable to pay for his/her bills. What if the patient dies in the operating room? You will require the mortuary attendant, right?
You need to stop this habit of comparing yourself to another cadre. Don’t compare yourself, but work on making your profession the best. You are the best. Comparing yourself is wasting time and energy.

 You need to stop that attitude and negativity that your profession is bad and worthless. Your profession is unique and different. It is not worthy of comparison. Focus on building your profession and stop comparing.

You also need to stop that ego that you are more important than everyone else. You are not doing any good but creating harm and confusion.

Every profession is special in its own way. Every course is unique in its own way. What we all need to do is to focus on building our professions rather than comparing and fighting against each other. Because at the end of the day, we all serve the same patients and the same humanity.

SULEIMAN NDORO JNR (DR AUDI)

MEDICAL & MOTIVATIONAL AUTHOR.

CHAIRMAN AND CEO – MEDWAX CORPORATION AFRICA.