Introduction
Being a medical professional is one of the most desired professions all over the world. Almost every family wants to have at least one medical practitioner amongst them.
This is usually because they tend to live on incomes higher than most of the other professions and the nature of the kind of job they are involved in.
Medical doctors take the lead among medical professionals in leadership in hospitals, respect from patients, remunerations paid and so on. However, other medical practitioners like nurses, pharmacists, dermatologists assists in carrying out the goals and objectives.
I will be sharing the average salaries some of these medical professionals earn that you might not be aware about…..
Nursing is one of the most caring professions. It involves caring for sick people. They are the first point of care in a hospital before being attended to by the medical doctors.Nursing involves a lot of patience, empathy amongst many other skills.
A Registered Nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program and met the requirements outlined by a country, state, province or similar licensing body to obtain a nursing license.They conduct general body examinations, provide counselling on certain health related issues, prescribe medications etc.
The average salary earned by nurses in Kenya is Ksh 41,000. However, some nurses in Kenya earn more than this, while some earn less than this depending on certain factors that are put into consideration. The biggest factor out into consideration in determining the salary of a nurse in Kenya is the number of years of experience as a nurse. The more the experience, the higher the salary earned by such a nurse.
Pharmacists are healthcare professionals who practice in pharmacy. They are involved in all aspects of medicine delivery to patients. They will prepare and package medication that a doctor has prescribed and also sell medication over the counter. They are also referred to as Chemist or Pharmacologists. A pharmacist may be based within a hospital or at a pharmacy. They will have a degree in Pharmacy which provides them with an understanding of the biochemical mechanisms of drugs, drug uses, therapeutic roles, side effects, potential drug interactions, and monitoring parameters.
An average Pharmacist in Kenya should earn at least Ksh 72,000 per month. This is also dependent on some factors like grade or level of the pharmacist and number of years of experience as well.
The medical practitioners that specialize in eye care are called Ophthalmologists. However, people mistake the roles of Ophthalmologists, with that of Optometrists and Opticians. They all play an important role in providing eye care to consumers but the levels of training and expertise are however quite different for each type of provider.
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specializes in eye and vision care such as performing eye surgery, treating and diagnosing eye injuries and diseases, and prescribing eye-wears. Optometrists are healthcare professionals who provide primary vision care ranging from sight testing and correction to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of vision changes. While, Opticians are technicians trained to design, verify and fit eyeglass lenses and frames, contact lenses, and other devices to correct eyesight.
The average salary for them is Ksh 90,000 monthly.
A pediatrician is medical doctor who manages the physical, behavioral, and mental care for children from birth until age 18. A pediatrician is trained to diagnose and treat a broad range of childhood illnesses, from minor health problems to serious diseases. Another important part of their job revolves around working with their patients’ parents or guardians to teach them how to provide proper care to their children.
A pediatrician in Kenya earns at least Ksh 164,268 and at most Ksh 563,739 monthly depending on the number of years of experience.
Orthopedic surgeons are devoted to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles. Orthopedic doctors, or orthopedists, are either medical doctors or doctors of osteopathy who specialize in treating conditions and injuries involving bones and connective tissue, including tendons, and ligaments. wOrthopedists use a variety of treatments, including surgical interventions, casting, bracing and medications.
The range of salary of orthopedic surgeons in Kenya is between Ksh 219,000 monthly.
Medical doctorsare physicians who work in hospitals, clinics, medical centers, or private practices. They treat people for illnesses and injuries. They also prescribe medications, order diagnostic tests, diagnose ailments, and record patient information.Doctors face the challenge of trying to heal people and to keep people as healthy as possible on a daily basis. They do this by using their communication skills to understand what the problem is and their scientific knowledge to know how best to fix it. Doctors have some of the most diverse and challenging careers. They are adequately rewarded by being part of a universally well-respected profession.
The average salary of a Medical Doctor in Kenya is Ksh 139,000 monthly.
Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin, nails, hair and its diseases. It is a specialty with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist is specialist doctor that manages diseases, in the widest sense, and some cosmetic problems of the skin, hair and nails.
The average salary of dermatologists in Kenya is Ksh 28, 697.
Gynaecology or gynecology is the medical practice dealing with the health of the female reproductive systems. Outside medicine, the term means “the science of women”.
Gynecologists are doctors who specialize in women’s health, with a focus on the female reproductive system.
They deal with a wide range of issues, including obstetrics, or pregnancy and childbirth, menstruation and fertility issues, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), hormone disorders, and others.
A neurosurgeon is a medical specialist who treats diseases and conditions affecting the nervous system, which includes the brain, the spine and spinal cord, and the peripheral nerves. Neurosurgeons provide non-operative and surgical treatment to patients of all ages. They are also called brain surgeons.
They treat and manage conditions that affect the flow of blood to the brain. As well as performing operations, they may be involved in a person’s rehabilitation after treatment.
A radiologist is a health professional who uses x-rays to produce radiographs of patients in order to help diagnose the patient’s medical condition. A radiographer can have a lot of variety in their working day. As well as using x-rays to produce radiographs, they can take Computed Tomography (CT) scans, ultrasounds and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
The average salary of a radiologist in Kenya is Ksh 113,870.
Medical laboratory science professionals, often called medical laboratorians, are vital healthcare detectives, uncovering and providing laboratory information from laboratory analyses that assist physicians in patient diagnosis and treatment, as well as in disease monitoring or prevention (maintenance of health).
Professionals in this field analyze blood, urine, tissue, and other body specimens. These results play an important role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.
Laboratory scientists are in high demand. And with future growth predicted to be above average for all professions, laboratory science provides solid job security.
The average salary of a medical laboratorian in Kenya is Ksh 34,000.
CONCLUSION.
Medicine is a very lucrative profession. However, it is not always about the income generated. Fulfillment comes from being able to save lives and solve problems for people.
From the salaries above, one can easily conclude that the Medical Profession is really a noble one, not just in words or for prestige sake but also reflects in the salaries received
what of physiotherapists?
What of a professional and sufficiently experienced medical laboratory scientist