The medical field has been split into different categories depending on the job description. Based on different categories and responsibilities the salary also varies.
The various categories in the medical field range from general doctors, nurses, laboratory personnel, specialists, consultants, pharmacists to trainees.
The salary that you earn per month in this field depends greatly on your category. Also, your years of experience and level of education will contribute to how much you can earn per month.
On an average scale, the lowest amount that one can earn in the medical field is 28,000 and the maximum can go up to 700,000 per month.
Medicine is the most desired field of study worldwide but only a few can qualify to join this field. This is because it is well paying and highly marketable.
Below is a brief description of jobs, academic qualifications and salaries for different categories in the medical sector.
- Pharmacists
They are in charge of packaging the prescribed medicine by a doctor. At times they sell drugs in a chemist.
They also help patients in understanding prescribed medicine, the side effects of the medicine, when to use and how to use it.
To be a pharmacist you must go through training in a recognized institution and obtain certificates relevant to this field. You must be licensed too by the Kenyan Medical and Poison Board.
Minimum salary 40,000 up to a maximum of 70,000 per month.
2. Nurses
They do a lot in hospitals. Their duties range from counselling patients where necessary, directing patients, carrying out general body examinations like pressure, weight, height etc.
You must go through training in a recognized institution of learning and must obtain proper certification.
Averagely the salary ranges between 41,000 to 60,000.
3. Medical Laboratory Technicians
They play an important role in the diagnosis of the patient. They analyse samples from the patient as directed by the doctor. From the analysis, they give out the diagnosis.
After going through thorough training in a recognized institution and attaining relevant certification, one must be licensed by Kenyan Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board to qualify to be a medical laboratory scientist.
Starting basic salary for this category is around 34,000.
4. Medical Officer
They are very important personnels in a hospital. They carry out vital roles like referring patients to specialists, giving out medical reports, scrutinize medical reports, advises on disease control measures among many others.
In terms of academic qualifications, one must be a graduate from a recognized institution with a Bachelors degree in medicine and surgery. Must be licensed by Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board.
You must have gone through an internship in any hospital for at least one full year.
Their salary is between 140,000 and 400,000.
5. Specialists
These are medical personnels who have taken interest in certain specific areas.
To be in this category one must go through advanced training in a particular area of interest and obtain proper certification (get a certificate in that area). All specialists either have degrees or masters in their areas of study. Diploma and certificate are not enough.
They must have licenses from KMPDB and must have experience of not less than three years in the field.
Some of the areas of specialization and the specialists includes but not limited to the following:
- Psychiatry- Psychiatrist (350,000- 400,000)
- Surgery- Surgeon (neurologist 450,000- 530,000)
- Radiology- Radiologist (400,000-460,000)
- Oncology- Oncologist (550,000- 620,000)
- Gynecology- Gynecologist (400,000- 460,000)
- Pediatric- Pediatrician (350,000-400,000)
- Endocrinology- Endocrinologist (400,000-460,000)
- Ophthalmology- Ophthalmologist (300,000- 360,000)
- Cardiology- Cardiologist (550,000-620,000)
- Dermatology- Dermatologist (400,000-480,000)
The salary for specialists varies greatly starting from a minimum amount of 100,000 up to a maximum amount of 700,000. It all depends on the level of education, area of specialization and work experience. All medical practitioners are also entitled to allowances besides their salary. These includes:
Risk health allowance (10,000 to 30,000) Leave allowance (5,000 to 15,000) Commuter allowance (3,000 to 9,000) House allowance (10,000 to 25,000) Emergency allowance (20,000 to 50,000) These are allowances on monthly basis.
3 Comments
Informative article, although you should also include correct information about the boards in charge of these specialities. Slapping prices on a profession that is currently not being employed by the government doesn’t quite help their image. Food for thought.
What of clinical medicine
What of clinical medicine