The Minster of Higher Education, Chancellor of Academic Orders has threatened to shut down a number of medical training institutions that are blatantly performing below the standards set by the Ministry for a highly sensitive discipline such as medicine and other allied professions. Professor Jacques Fame Ndongo in 2011 came under Cameroon Tribune’s grill for what was perceived at that time as his overly generous dispensation in authorizing the opening of such institutions. At that time, the minister argued that the country’ needs in medical personnel were so herculean that any initiative, especially coming from the private sector was welcome. The minister’s argument seemed so plausible because, at that time, the three-or-so faculties of medicine in State-run universities became increasingly unable to handle the rising demand for medical education, let alone address the pressing needs in medical doctors and other qualified high-level personnel badly needed in the country.

Two schools of thought immediately emerged after the minster’s decision to encourage the opening of these institutions. On the one hand, the market situation really warranted the training of more medical doctors; a task the formal or State-run institutions could not carry out. On the other, there was the fear that the proliferation of these institutions was going to encourage the training of half-baked doctors, thus sacrificing quality on the altar of quantity. This second position was militantly taken up by national professional associations which would not accept the ministerial position. The National Medical Association of Cameroon took the lead and has been very vocal in denouncing the poor quality of training in some of the training institutions, especially those responsible for training medical doctors. This proactive posture of the medical profession has brought the trainers and the users into a closer synergy best illustrated by the fact that in view of the situation, the Ministers of Higher Education and Public Health took up the issue by requesting a detailed study of the situation.

Last Friday the study group set up by the two ministers to evaluate the various faculties of medicine came up with findings that confirm the worry of the many Cameroonians who fear the proliferation of Medical Schools could impact very negatively on the quality of health delivery in the country. For example, the study group, under the leadership of a renowned medical educator, Professor Maurice Sosso discovered the presence of a whopping 6000 students in the various medical schools in the country. Of the six private university-level medical schools, the investigators noted that only two met “the minimal functioning norms” of a medical school. To go by Professor Fame Ndongo of Higher Education, even some faculties of medicine in State Universities are not among the best of the lot. The group observed a number of discrepancies among which are the very fragile financial base of many institutions, inappropriate administrative and academic organization,, the recruitment of unqualified staff and the heavy dependence on part-time staff torn apart as they are expected to be in many locations at the same time. The situation is sufficiently serious for the two Ministers to promise some revolutionary actions in the near future resulting in what they themselves have referred to as “collateral damages”.

What is coming up rather frequently as a palliative measure to the disturbing situation is the organization of a national proficiency examination for all those wishing to embrace the medical profession. At least, everybody will be playing on level ground. Those teaching in these schools will also come under regular check. It is time over for the policy of the carrot which Professor Fame used a few years ago. Time now is resolutely in favour of the use of the stick.