Overview

The Department of Physiology was established as one of the pioneer departments in the University of Ghana Medical School which was incepted in 1962. The department has since offered Physiology as a basic science discipline to pre-clinical students of the MB ChB programme, initially over 4 academic terms and currently over 2 semesters under the course-credit system.  As a foundation science of medicine, the department delivers its curriculum through lectures, practical sessions, computer-simulated lessons, tutorials and demonstrations in systems physiology and emphasizes relevant clinical application of principles. The medical/dental student population offering Physiology as a basic science has grown from about 40 in the late 60’s to about 180 as at August 2014.  Other students serviced by the department, come from Allied Health, Veterinary, Pharmacy, and nursing programmes. Over the same period, lecturers with full-time regular appointment have reduced in number from 8 to 2 due to a myriad of factors, not least being inadequate research infrastructure and relatively low remuneration for basic scientists.