The PBL curriculum covers 72 “cases” during the 80 weeks of basic medical science. All incoming students begin with an eight –week Module, which consists of seven cases. These cases are designed to introduce new medical students to the fundamentals of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology. The pathological conditions are not simple, but they do lend themselves to thoughtful overviews of basic body systems. A representative Module I for all new students is likely to include seven weekly cases. The 8th week of a Module is used for module review followed by the graded Summative Examination.

Each of these 72 PBL cases is deeply enriched by imbedded video slide presentations which add enormously useful, basic science and clinical skills to each of the generalized case titles noted. Most of the cases contain from two to four such presentations that complete the University’s basic science curriculum. No one module is a prerequisite for another module. Each problem module is initially presented in terms of the “macro concept”, i.e., a patient with chest pain. As the problem evolves, “micro concepts” are explored, i.e. mechanisms of pain. By the end of the problem module, students are expected to understand the basic science concepts presented in an applied clinical context. The student is required to participate in online activities such as threaded discussion groups. Students are required to pose questions and answer queries posted by the academic department and/or other students. Communication is encouraged, as collaborative work is one of the philosophical foundations of the International University of the Health Sciences problem-based learning curriculum. Students are encouraged to post pertinent resource information discovered during the course of weekly study on the shared workspace bulletin board.

Each problem opens many doors to learning, as outlined above, as well as the many published materials available to assist the student. IUHS staff have prepared a large number of additional materials in the form of power point / slide presentations and the like to assist the students. In addition many of the senior students have prepared well organized study notes and guides for themselves and lists of useful web resources which they share with other students.

On successful completion of the pre-clinical training supplemented by the internal exams, the students shall appear for the Exit I Examination conducted by the IUHS.

Following the pre-clinical training supplemented by the University’s Internal and Exit Exams, the students commence clinical rotations, following the established pattern. There is a ‘12 week rotation’ Core for Internal medicine, Surgery, Obst & Gynae, Pediatrics & Community medicine and a ‘6 week rotation’ Core for Ophthalmology, ENT, Psychiatry, Dermatology and Radiology. Further, twenty weeks are spent in clinical elective rotations where the students can choose to work in their own particular areas of interest. Five electives have to be chose from the following electives such as Anesthetics, Hematology & Oncology, Plastic Surgery, Cardiology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Orthopedics, Emergency Medicine.

Following the pre-clinical training supplemented by the University’s Internal and Exit Exams, the students commence clinical rotations, following the established pattern. There is a ‘12 week rotation’ Core for Internal medicine, Surgery, Obst & Gynae, Pediatrics & Community medicine and a ‘6 week rotation’ Core for Ophthalmology, ENT, Psychiatry, Dermatology and Radiology. Further, twenty weeks are spent in clinical elective rotations where the students can choose to work in their own particular areas of interest. Five electives have to be chose from the following electives such as Anesthetics, Hematology & Oncology, Plastic Surgery, Cardiology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Orthopedics, Emergency Medicine.

The principal focus of the rotations program of study (other than the practical, professional and procedural aspects of rotations) are on issues of ethics, law, professionalism, record keeping, information management, business management, care delivery system organization, finance and funding arrangements, inter-professional relationships, research methods and protocols and so on. However, the cases will also emphasize appropriate clinical sciences issues

Core rotations are followed by the elective rotations in which student has to choose any five electives from the following, each elective has duration of 4 weeks.