American Medical School vs. Indian Medical School: are they comparable?

Question

Are an undergraduate and medical degree from the US (7-8 years after high school) and a medical degree from India (4 years after high school) comparable? I don't mean in terms of the ability to be licensed in the United States, but in terms of the education itself.

What are the pros and cons of this system? I am an undergraduate student, in the US (a psychology/biology double major with a minor in computer science) and want to do an MD/PhD in Neurocognitive Psychology.

My question is, how do the schools in India pack what I believe should be an 7-8 year educational experience in 4 (please pardon my American arrogance)? How do people do things like honors theses and, otherwise, obtain research experience? Do schools offer these same opportunities? Moreover, do students take anything other than medical classes in their four years? If not, how do students develop their interests?

I am asking for a cousin of mine who is deciding between doing the undergrad degree from America to follow the traditional US track, and Manipal. He deferred admission an Ivy, but is having second thoughts because the Indian medical degree takes 3-4 years less. As I have mentioned before, I have my bias. However, I want to make sure I am giving him a balanced opinion. I don't want him to close out any options; he might want to go into a research career.

I am also just interested in learning about the life in Indian medical schools. Is there anyone here who wants to pursue a career in academia and is attending/has attended an Indian medical school? I would love to hear your advice.

Thank you.

Answer 1

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Answer 2

American schools are better, period. Why do you think so many Indians come here for medical school? Going to an indian medical school means you will not be accredited to work in the United States. You have to go through a long process with a number of exams and interviews. If you can't get into an American University and have to go to a foreign one, most likely you shouldn't practice medicine and should work in that country because their standards aren't as high. :)

Answer 3

Anybody intending to practice medicine in the US, regardless of where they did their medical school (even in the US) has to successfully pass the US Medical Licensing Exams.  The biggest hurdle for foreign trained doctors is the Step 1 exam of the USMLE.  The US medical schools emphasize science in far greater detail than any foreign school (including schools in the UK).  It's for that reason you find so many Indian trained physicians driving taxis.  Most of the Indian-trained physicians practicing in the US supplemented their education in order to pass the Step 1 of the USMLE.

The best advice to any potential medical student is to attend a school in the country where you intend to practice.  I wouldn't advise a US educated student to try to practice in Italy.  Not only are there language and cultural issues, but there are so many subtleties that a physician needs to clue in on that it's almost a guarantee that a physician working in a foreign environment will miss them.  

If your cousin is looking for short cuts, medicine is not the field for him/her.  Medicine is a life-long commitment to education.  Trying to shave some time off at the very beginning is a recipe for poor career.