Cross Border Medical Education : Prague, Czech Republic

Dobry den! I was lucky enough to experience a professional exchange to Prague at July 2012. I got a chance to meet other students, doctors, and health professionals at Third Medical Faculty Charles University of Prague. As one of the out-goers, I had a secret mission to get to know how was the medical educational system in Prague like. This was quite a hard mission due to the only-a-month-exchange-period I had. Anyway, I've done the mission so I'd like to share it with all of you. Happy reading :D

Prologue

Czech Republic is one of the countries located in Central Europe. It is widely known for its rich ancient histories and amazing architecture. Its capital and largest City is Prague. There are a lot of famous cultural attractions with stunning architecture in Prague. Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, Astronomical Clock, Prague Castle and so many others had made Prague as the sixth-most-visited city in Europe.The economy condition in Prague remains high and stable with a GDP per capita of 80% of the European Union average.

Prague amazing view

The Charles University of Prague

I was sent to the third Medical Faculty of Charles University. The University is the oldest and the largest  University in Czech Republic. It was established in 1348 by the King Charles IV, the university's name taken from. Nowadays, it has 17 faculties, 14 faculties located in Prague, 2 in Hradec Kralove and 1 in Plzen. Anyway, Charles University has 5 medical faculties spread around the city. This is, however, difference with in Indonesia where one university only have one medical faculty.

The Third Medical Faculty of Charles University

It is located at Praha 10, about 30 min from Old Town Square by metro. It is more suburb rather than the First Medical Faculty, yet you can't look down on the educational quality. It was established at the beginning of the 20th century. Since 1991, the faculty introduced medical curriculum in English for international students. Now, it already has 1000 students. The teaching basis includes 8 hospitals, which is so many, and there are Faculty Hospital Královské Vinohrady, Psychiatric Centre Praha, Hospital Na Bulovce, Thomayer Hospital, Institute for Mother and Child Care, Hospital Na Homolce, Central Military Hospital and The National Institute of Public Health. Prominent experts of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Iiinstitute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine also participate in the teaching.

Medical Education

Curriculum
For curriculum in the Third faculty, it is based on principles of integrated and problem oriented instruction and early contacts with the patient. Generally in Czech, the study of General Medicine lasts for 6 years. It is divided into 3 cycle :

• Cycle 1 (1st and 2nd year) – Basic Biomedical Sciences - integrates theoretical subjects into the following modules: Structures and Function of Human Body; Cell Biology and Genetics; Biophysics and Informatics; Methodology; Needs of Patients
• Cycle 2 (3rd and 4th year) - Principles of Clinical Medicine – consists of these modules: Theoretical Foundations of Clinical Medicine, Clinical Propedeutics, Basic Clinical Problems, and Compulsory Optional courses
• Cycle 3 – (5th and 6th year) Clinical Preparation – consists of these modules – Internal Medicine; Surgery; Gynaecology and Obstetrics; Paediatrics and Preventive Medicine. 

Cycle 1 and 2 takes place in university building whereas Cycle 3 students exclusively study in hospital. As long as I saw, the study is way different from Indonesia because it contains mostly discussion and self learning. My Czech friend said that it only takes 2 or 3 hours for the lecture in the morning, and the rest of the day is the discussion between the students. Moreover, the lecture is not about explaining the subjects but only contains instructions what to do in that subject.

Another thing that seems interesting and differ from Indonesian curriculum and Czech is in Czech there is Summer Practice. In Summer Practice, the students have to go to hospitals for one or 2 weeks in summer holidays. During the practice, the students are introduced to the real cases of the patients, the real hospital life  and are able to shadowing the doctors or just discuss the cases. The cases and the discussion are lead by doctors and suit the subject that the students have received by all means. It is, surely, compatible with the curriculum vision, which is "early contacts with the patients". At the end of the summer practice, there is an examination for the students. All in all, it can improves the knowledge and medical skills of the students.

After taking the 6 years of the study, you are an MUDr (Medicinae Universae Doctor) which is equal to MD in english term.

Fee

How about the fee anyway ? For your information, primary and secondary schools in Czech is free for the citizen. Furthermore, it is also free for national universities. If any interested in private universities, it costs about 2000-15.000 USD per year. Interested ? :)

Me and my unforgottable summer friends!