First year of mbbs is a time when we are completely lost. Like, we don’t have even the slightest idea about what is happening unless there is someone to guide us.
I still remember my first year- I was totally lost.
But slowly with time, we get used to life in medical college.
Still, a little help won’t hurt, right?
In this post, I’ve made a list of all things that medical students are required to buy for their first-year MBBS course.
These are all essentials, so don’t forget to add these items to your college checklist!
Requirements for medical students
1. Apron/White coat
2. Bone set
3. Textbooks
4. Stethoscope
5. Dissection set
6. Colour pencils for Histology
7. Pen torch
8. Thermometer
9. Measuring tape
10. Reflex hammer
11. Gloves
12. Lancet
13. Backpack
1. Apron/White coat
Aah… the dream finally coming true!
The one thing that you’ve wanted to wear from the time you were a little kid, is in fact an essential.
You need to wear your lab coat/ Apron to your practicals, clinical postings and exams.
Every medical college has its own rules, however, all of them are more or less the same.
Make sure you get at least 2 coats because you’ll be busy and laundry won’t be on the top of your list.
2. Bone set
A bone set is going to be your study buddy throughout the year!
Buying a brand-new set can be expensive.
But you can get the whole set from your seniors for much more reasonable prices.
You can hand it down to the next first-years when you are done for a fair price, so start searching as soon as your classes begin.
Make sure it has all the bones and you get a study pal for yourself!
3. Textbooks
Is learning Medicine ever complete without textbooks?
It is better if you have all the required books at your side before the course starts.
If you don’t know which textbooks to buy, I have a post on all the essential textbooks needed for first-year MBBS here.
4. Stethoscope
Again, the dream coming true!
It’s a different feeling when you get a brand-new stethoscope in your first year.
(Ooh goosebumps!)
So, getting the best one is a must.
Littmann Classic III is preferred among students, and trust me, they do make the best ones for us 😇.
5. Dissection set
It has dissecting knife handle with its blade, scissors, and forceps.
You’ll be dissecting cadavers with these equipments in the MBBS first year.
Never be shy to step forward and do the dissection once you get it!
6. Colour pencils for Histology
You’ll need colour pencils for all the first year subjects, especially anatomy.
For histology, you need eosin (pink) and hematoxylin (violet) color pencils.
It’s recommended to buy Steadtler’s pencils.
7. Pen torch
A pen torch will come in handy towards the end of the first year (2nd semester) for your physiology practicals.
It’s used for examinations involving the eyes, so make sure to buy the appropriate one.
8. Thermometer
Nowadays digital thermometers are popular, I know.
Although we don’t use it much, it’s good to have a mercury thermometer with us.
Sometimes you need them for physiology practicals.
9. Measuring tape
You’ll need this for anatomy and physiology.
For anatomy, it’s for learning the surface marking of important structures- you’ll learn to locate some important internal structures on the body and mark them.
In the case of physiology too, you might want to take some measurements.
10. Reflex hammer
It’s our tool of pride, medico.
You can’t go towards without this sticking at some awkward angle from your pocket 😂.
By the end of the first year, you need this one for physiology clinical examinations.
And if you are looking for the best deal out there, Smart Medical Buyer has an all-in-one medical diagnostic kit specific for medical students so that you won’t have to buy every instrument separately.
The kit includes:
3M Littmann Classic III Stethoscope – Black
Rossmax Arm Type Aneroid BP Monitor Sphygmomanometer
Diagnostic LED Penlight/Flashlight for Nurses & Doctors
Tuning Fork Set of 4 – 128 Hz, 256 Hz, 512 Hz, 1024 Hz
Multipurpose Knee/ Percussion Hammer
Tourniquet Belt – Pack of 2
11. Gloves
Yet another essential for a medical student.
Don’t buy gloves that are too loose or too tight. You should be comfortable wearing them.
12. Lancet
These are for your hematology experiments in the Physiology lab practicals.
Spoiler alert: you’re supposed to prick yourself to draw blood, champ!
13. Backpack
Don’t you need a perfect bag to stash all these instruments away?
I always get backpacks with a lot of pockets, so that I can find something without having to take everything out.
A durable backpack can go a long way especially when you are a medical student. So, buy a good bag.
