A medical college is a trade association that brings together practitioners of a particular geographical area (a country, region, province). In common-law countries, they are often grouped by medical specialties (cardiologists, family doctors, etc.).

Medical associations act as a safeguard of the fundamental values of the medical profession: the deontological ethics and code of ethics. In addition to providing exclusive representation in national and international medical practitioners, a medical college is responsible for management and protection of the medical profession.

In most countries, licensing is usually required. A professional or college official is a public corporation of an industry association composed of persons exercising liberal professions and calls are usually covered by the state. Associate members are known as colleges.

History

In ancient Rome, the college was understood by the name of Colegium the company public law with legal personality, formed by a plurality of persons with the same trade. For its formation is needed at least three people, but to continue their activity sufficient one. It is believed that Opificum o Societate colleges, from which the current Official Colleges, were derived from the associations of commoners to achieve benefits similar to those enjoyed by the patricians, needed a special authorization from the Emperor or the Senate to take legal personality. The government and the administration were chosen at a meeting of all participants. From Alexander Severus, these associations are transformed to free compulsory, children should follow the profession of his father.

In India, a medical college is an educational institution that provides medical education. These institutions may vary from stand-alone colleges that train doctors to conglomerates that offer training related in all aspects of medical care. The term is synonymous with "medical school" as used in the USA and some other countries.

Recognition

Indian law requires these institutions to be recognised by the Medical Council of India. The Indian government keeps an updated list of these approved medical colleges.

Graduation courses

Prospective students for an undergraduate course leading towards a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (M.B.B.S.) degree must have completed a Higher Secondary (School) Certificate (HSC) (10+2, or high school) with the Science stream, including the subjects Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Admission process

Traditionally, admission criteria differed from one part of the country to another and even from Institution to Institution. For example, applicants should be undergraduates when they apply to American universities while they pursue bachelor's degrees when they apply to China medical colleges. The whole admission process is under a major reform with ongoing court cases from parties against it. In general, admission was based on one of the following:

Medical education in Iraq is based on the 6-year British curriculum and is carried out in English. Medical education is free, and all required textbooks are provided free to students. Postgraduate residency training is required for both Iraqi and Arab board certification in each specialty. Before the Gulf War, the government funded subspecialty training abroad.

Academic physicians in Iraq, most of whom are specialists, are expected to publish their research in peer reviewed journals to be eligible for promotion to the highest levels. After United Nations sanctions were imposed in 1990, the delivery of European and American medical journals to Iraq abruptly stopped.

Facilities

There are 20 colleges of medicine in Iraq, seven colleges of nursing, 10 colleges of dentistry and 8 colleges of pharmacy in addition to 6 technical colleges and 20 colleges of sciences which take the responsibility for supporting health care services and delivery.

Iraqi doctors

US officials report that an estimated 8,000 Iraqi doctors stopped practicing medicine from 2003 to 2008 because doctors became targets for murder and kidnapping. US health officials say Iraq probably needs about 100,000 doctors to meet the needs of its population, but has only 15,000 now.