Govt launches national contest for medical training

Established last year, the second national contest for the qualification into medical training has been launched for the 2014-2015 academic year.

Candidates have until September 12 to file their records in ten centres open to this effect through the country. In Cameroon, six institutions have been empowered to educate physicians, pharmacists or dentists.

Signed by the Minister Jacques Fame Ndongo, the decree of August 8 distributes the 800 seats open to competition to various institutions The Faculty of medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Yaoundé (FMSB) has the greatest share.

160 seats was reserved for the Faculty of medicine and sciences pharmaceutical (FMSP) in Douala, 80 in the Faculty of Health sciences of Buea, and 60 in the Faculty of Health sciences of Bamenda.

In the private sector, the higher Institute of medical technology (ISTM) Nkolondom, was given 50 seats. About UDM, specifically at the higher Institute of health sciences in Bangante, it has 80 seats in medicine, pharmacy 65 and 75 in dental surgery.

In 2010, Cameroon had 30,000 health personnel, both in the private and public sectors, including 752 specialists, 90 dentists, 72 pharmacists and 1350 practitioners. Compared to the needs of a country of over 20 million inhabitants, these numbers remain low.