Sir Salimullah Medical College: A Legacy of Medical Education and Healthcare in Bangladesh

Sir Salimullah Medical College (SSMC), located in Dhaka, Bangladesh, stands as a beacon of medical education and healthcare. Commonly known as Mitford, it is a public medical college with a rich history and a commitment to producing quality physicians, researchers, and health policy makers. The college is affiliated with Mitford Hospital, a historic institution that has been at the forefront of medical education in the subcontinent.

Historical Overview

The origins of Sir Salimullah Medical College trace back to the establishment of Mitford Hospital on May 1, 1858. Mitford Hospital was named after Robert Mitford, a British colonial official, who funded the hospital. He left his estate to the government of Bengal to establish a medical facility in Dhaka. The Governor General of India, James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie, established Mitford Hospital with the endowment. Through the early 20th century, the institution grew incrementally amid British colonial rule and post-partition challenges in East Pakistan. Bangladesh's independence in 1971 marked a pivotal shift, with the college adapting to serve the new nation's healthcare priorities.

From Medical School to Medical College

A medical school, the first of its kind in this region, began its journey on 15 June 1875. Later on, the DC of Dhaka division Mr. W.R. Larmini laid the foundation stone of the academic building in April 1887. A total number of 384 students got admitted to the school in the first batch. The LMF course was abandoned in 1957. AFM Nurul Islam took the chair of principal and started the condensed course of MBBS in 1963. After the Independence of Bangladesh, Professor Dr Muhammad Ibrahim took the chair of principal and under his direct supervision SSMC started its journey as a full-fledged medical college.

In 1962, the Dacca Medical School was transformed into a medical college. To acknowledge the contribution of the Nawab, the college was named after Nawab Sir Salimullah (1871-1915). Until 1957, the college was offering LMF degree. Condensed courses for MBBS degree were offered between 1963-1972. In 1972, it was upgraded to a full-fledged medical college, and in 1973, the first batch of students were admitted for the MBBS degree. The Civil Surgeon of Dhaka was in charge of both the college and the hospital till 1974, when the principal and superintendent were appointed.

Campus and Infrastructure

The campus is located at Mitford road, Babubazar, Old Dhaka, the historic old part of Dhaka city. It is spread over about 2.8 acres of land, on the bank of Buriganga river. The medical college building is situated to the south-east of the hospital area, near the river bank with a large garden in front. The building is four-storeyed with a floor space of 4,940 square meters on each floor. The building accommodates the Departments of Anatomy, Pathology, Biochemistry, and Microbiology.

Mitford Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in Bangladesh, is located adjacent to the college campus. It occupies an oblong area of about 12.8 acres of land on the bank of Buriganga river. The hospital complex comprises more than fourteen buildings, most of which were originally single-storied and later have been raised to multiple storeys. The main hospital building is eight-storeyed which is commonly known as "Surgery building", as it houses the surgical units. The outpatient department is located in another building, in front of the main building. The King Edward Building is three-storeyed and houses the medicine units, hence it is commonly known as the "Medicine building". The building is named after King Edward VII.

Hostels

There are eight hostels in this medical college. Main Hostel and its extension (Male), Alauddin Hostel (Male), two female student hostels, Internee Hostel (Male) and Internee Hostel (Female). In all these hostels the main hostel is the center of all cultural and student activities. Alauddin Hostel is located a few blocks away from the main campus. All the hostels have 24-hour electricity and water supply facility but the security and comprehensive arrangements are unsatisfactory. There are separate hostels for boys and hostels for girls. This reputed institute has rooms for all the graduate students. Currently, the hostel can accommodate all students. There is also a separate dining hall.

In response to residential needs, construction of three new hostel buildings commenced following foundation stones laid on August 28, 2025, under a national project for enhanced medical college facilities approved in July 2023 and slated for completion by June 2027. The project includes a 15-story male hostel costing Tk 101.77 crore, featuring 312 residential rooms for 936 seats primarily for interns; and two 12-story female hostels at Tk 46.53 crore total, providing 144 rooms for 504 seats.

Library

The library is located on the ground floor of the new academic building with a large collection of medical books. SSMC has a fast growing specialized library section with books on educational innovations, educational psychology, instructional techniques, curriculum development, curriculum evaluation etc.

Academic Programs and Curriculum

Sir Salimullah Medical College offers MBBS and BDS degrees at the undergraduate level. The College strives to provide the quality medical education needed to address the existing and emerging health problems of the population. For institutions. University provides a high standard quality of education with affordable fees. The students get to know all the different modern instruments, laboratories, and so on. The medium of language will be English, so international students will be comfortable.

A countrywide combined medical admission test for MBBS course is held every year under the supervision of DGHS. Students after passing Higher Secondary School Certificate or equivalent examinations with the required grades can apply for the test. In 2024, 250 seats were allocated for MBBS course in Sir Salimullah Medical College. The qualified candidates, according to their preferences, get the opportunity to study at the medical college. The courses are divided into four phases. Four professional examinations, one at the end of each phase, are held under the University of Dhaka.

MBBS Program Curriculum

The MBBS program is divided into four phases:

Phase I (First Professional, 18 months): This pre-clinical phase introduces foundational biomedical sciences through Anatomy (including histology and embryology), Physiology, and Biochemistry, with early exposure to Community Medicine basics. Instruction involves 650 hours of Anatomy (dissections, prosected specimens, and imaging), 380 hours of Physiology (experiments and tutorials), and 270 hours of Biochemistry (laboratory analyses), alongside integrated problem-based learning sessions to link concepts to clinical scenarios. Students engage in small-group tutorials, skill lab simulations, and introductory hospital visits for orientation to patient care ethics and communication.
Phase II (Second Professional, 12 months): Para-clinical subjects dominate, including Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Forensic Medicine, and advanced Community Medicine. Pathology covers systemic histopathology and cytopathology (approximately 300 hours), Microbiology focuses on bacteriology, virology, and parasitology with lab diagnostics, while Pharmacology emphasizes drug mechanisms, therapeutics, and pharmacovigilance (250 hours). Forensic Medicine integrates medicolegal aspects like autopsy procedures and toxicology. Teaching methods include lectures, practicals, museum visits, and field postings for community health surveys, fostering early clinical correlation.
Phase III and IV (Third and Final Professional, 24 months combined): These clinical phases integrate advanced subjects across Medicine and allied disciplines (e.g., Cardiology, Dermatology, Psychiatry), Surgery and allied (e.g., Orthopedics, Anesthesiology), Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, and Radiology. Rotations involve ward duties, outpatient clinics, operation theaters, and emergency postings at Mitford Hospital, with emphasis on history-taking, physical examination, procedural skills (e.g., suturing, lumbar puncture), and evidence-based management.

Dental Unit and BDS Program

The Dental Unit of Sir Salimullah Medical College was established in 2011 as a government-affiliated extension to provide specialized undergraduate dental education alongside the college's medical programs. It admits 52 students annually through the national medical and dental admission process managed by the Directorate General of Health Services, with eligibility requiring strong performance in secondary and higher secondary examinations, particularly in biology, chemistry, and physics.

The core program is the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), a five-year course comprising four years of academic and clinical instruction followed by a mandatory one-year internship. Preclinical phases emphasize foundational sciences such as anatomy, physiology, and basic dental materials, transitioning to paraclinical subjects like oral pathology and pharmacology, and culminating in clinical rotations covering operative dentistry, endodontics, prosthodontics, orthodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, and pediatric dentistry.

Operational facilities include shared access to the college's library with dental-specific resources, student hostels equipped with basic amenities, Wi-Fi, and recreational areas for sports. Faculty comprises specialists in key dental disciplines, such as conservative dentistry and endodontics, supporting both teaching and clinical oversight.

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Pre-Clinical and Basic Science Departments

The pre-clinical and basic science departments at Sir Salimullah Medical College (SSMC) deliver foundational instruction in human biology and medical sciences during the initial phases of the five-year MBBS program, emphasizing gross anatomy, physiological functions, and biochemical processes through lectures, laboratory work, dissections, and practical assessments. These departments, including Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, equip students with essential knowledge for subsequent clinical training, aligning with the curriculum mandated by the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council.

Department of Anatomy: Focuses on the structure of the human body, covering gross anatomy, neuroanatomy, histology, embryology, and genetics via cadaveric dissections, microscopic examinations, and radiological correlations. It houses a departmental museum with mounted specimens for student reference and conducts cross-sectional analytical research, such as anthropometric evaluations of head length among ethnic groups in Bangladesh from July 2017 to June 2018.
Department of Physiology: Instructs on normal body functions, including cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and endocrine systems, using experimental physiology labs, hematological analyses, and computer simulations to demonstrate mechanisms like nerve conduction and muscle contraction. Research from the department includes cross-sectional investigations into physiological markers, such as oxidative stress indicators in medical students conducted from July 2009 to June 2010, and evaluations of autonomic function from January to December 2017.
Department of Biochemistry: Covers molecular biology, metabolism, enzymology, and clinical correlations, with laboratories equipped for assays on proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids, integrating topics like nutritional biochemistry and molecular diagnostics into the first professional examination syllabus. Faculty contribute to academic discourse through platforms dedicated to the discipline, supporting SSMC's emphasis on evidence-based foundational training.

Clinical Departments

The clinical departments of Sir Salimullah Medical College primarily operate through its affiliation with Mitford Hospital, providing specialized patient care, undergraduate clinical training, and postgraduate residency programs in various medical and surgical fields. Mitford Hospital serves as the principal teaching facility affiliated with Sir Salimullah Medical College, providing hands-on clinical training for undergraduate and postgraduate students across various medical specialties.

Admission Process

Admission to the MBBS program at Sir Salimullah Medical College occurs through a centralized national selection process administered by the Directorate General of Medical Education (DGME) and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), ensuring standardized evaluation across government medical institutions in Bangladesh.

Eligible Bangladeshi candidates must possess a Secondary School Certificate (SSC) or equivalent with a minimum GPA of 3.5 and a Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) or equivalent with a minimum GPA of 3.5, achieving a combined GPA of at least 9.0 across both exams, with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as compulsory subjects at the HSC level. Candidates also need to be at least 17 years old by December 31 of the admission year and must pass an equivalency verification for non-standard qualifications.

The primary selection mechanism is a single-day national admission test, conducted in February or March, featuring 100 multiple-choice questions (30 each in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology; 10 in English; 30 in general knowledge or aptitude) worth 100 marks, with negative marking for incorrect answers. Test performance determines the merit list, which primarily weighs the exam score (up to 90% influence in ranking), supplemented by SSC and HSC GPAs for tie resolution.

Qualified candidates (around 60,000 passing the test in recent years) participate in subject-wise choice filling and allocation rounds, where top-ranked students select preferred colleges like SSMC based on availability; SSMC typically receives high-merit applicants due to its reputation and 250 annual MBBS seats. Approximately 10% of seats are reserved under quotas for children of freedom fighters, 1% for tribal/ethnic minorities, and smaller allocations for districts or special categories, sparking protests in 2024 over perceived inequities in merit-based access amid over 5,000 government seats nationwide.

Foreign students follow a distinct DGME circular, requiring an aggregate GPA of 8.0 (SSC/HSC equivalent), no admission test for most, and limited quotas (e.g., 5-10 seats at SSMC), with selection via application review, document equivalence by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and visa approval; total foreign allocations across government colleges number around 221 seats annually, prioritized for SAARC and non-SAARC applicants.

Student Life and Extracurricular Activities

Students at Sir Salimullah Medical College (SSMC) participate in various extracurricular and organizational activities through student-led clubs and societies, which emphasize leadership, community service, research, and cultural engagement alongside academic pursuits. Medicine Club, with its SSMC unit established in 1990, functions as a non-political academic and welfare organization. The Bangladesh Medical Students' Society (BMSS) SSMC Local Committee, part of the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA), drives public health campaigns, leadership workshops, academic seminars, and zonal events, including collaborations for training and awareness in specialized fields like burns care.

Students of the medical college often participate in debate and quiz competitions. SSMC has a large playground located a few blocks away from the main campus, known as Armanitola playground. The ground was built by Nawab Salimullah during the British Raj]. Now it is used as a venue for annual sports events as well as for cricket and football competitions. Students can access the facility all year round. Student organizations of the college arrange several cultural programmes every year. SSMC Day is celebrated each year on the premises on 8 February, the founding day of the institution.

Research and Publications

Sir Salimullah Medical College (SSMC) faculty and affiliated researchers have contributed to medical literature through clinical and epidemiological studies, often addressing prevalent health issues in Bangladesh such as infectious diseases and metabolic disorders. The Sir Salimullah Medical College Journal, published by the SSMC Teachers' Association, serves as the primary institutional outlet for research, featuring original articles, reviews, and case reports in fields including internal medicine and obstetrics. Broader contributions encompass public health-relevant topics, such as the quality of blood transfusion services at the college hospital, where mandatory screening tests were consistently performed but advanced procedures like apheresis were absent as of 2018 assessments.

Alumni

Sir Salimullah Medical College graduates have a strong alumni presence in United States, United Kingdom and Canada. SSMC Alumni Association Abroad is an organization of the alumni who are currently living abroad. The alumni association is involved in exchange of skills and education with the college. They provide scholarship every year to the students of SSMC. The SSMC Alumni Association Abroad, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization comprising graduates residing overseas, conducts annual distributions of lab coats and scholarships to support students at Sir Salimullah Medical College. These initiatives aim to alleviate financial burdens and provide essential resources for medical education.

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