Govt to flush out 1,000 fake medical practioners

The President of the National Order of Physicians of Cameroon known by its French acronym as ONMC has announced that fake doctors in the medical sector be flushed out.

Apart from sacking these fake doctors throughout the territory, unauthorised clinics will also be closed down.

The order was made by the President of ONMC Dr. Guy Sandjon at a meeting held on Friday at its headquarters in Yaounde.

Essentially, it was a question for members to dwell on the evils that plague the sector in Cameroon, like the illegal practice of medicine.

According to the security officials, more than 1,000 fake medical practitioners practice in Cameroon. Also, a campaign in synergy with the Ministry of Health was launched a year ago to close these illegal structures.

Dr. Guy Sandjon has also informed that the ONMC has detained a fake call doctor at Kondengui central prison for two months. "The latter was operating at the Essos neighborhood in Yaounde. He had fifteen patients at the time of his arrest while he was not qualified. This "doctor" possessed no medical degree and was not even trained. Recently another fake doctor was arrested in Douala.

His structure has been closed for two months after which the case was brought to the court which agreed and it was reopened. A survey conducted had shown that he has fake diplomas. Unfortunately, it has been successful, "says the president of the ONMC.

Moreover, the Council of ONMC announced the holding of the next general meeting on November 20 and other concerns: the modernization of the operation of the order, particularly with the establishment of an information tool.

It was also to review new members registration records. "This is the order that allows doctors to practice in our country. To ensure the safety of patients in the exercise of the medical profession, the ONMC has undertaken a great battle with the authorities.

This has resulted in the closure of several schools that did not meet a number of criteria. Only six were selected, "concluded Dr. Gervais Atedjoe, financial secretary and spokesperson for the ONMC Council.