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UCC School of Medical Sciences
matriculates pioneer students
Cape Coast, Jan. 17, Ghanadot/GNA-
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast UCC,
Reverend Professor Emmanuel Adow Obeng, on Thursday stressed
the need for the training of more medical professionals
beyond the current capacity of the existing medical
institutions to bridge the gap between the doctor-patient
ratio in the country.
According to him, statistics showed that the doctor-patient
ratio in Ghana was 1:12,000, adding that, there were worst
regional variations of 1:65,000 and that the phenomenon was
against the backdrop of an alarming medical brain-drain that
had hit the country.
Professor Obeng, who said this during the opening of the
University Of Cape Coast School Of Medical Sciences (UCC-SMS)
and the matriculation of the pioneer students at Cape Coast
stressed that, it was in this regard that the UCC
established the medical school to fill the gap.
In all, 43 students, including eight females were admitted
to study courses in the basic sciences components of
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of surgery.
The process for the school started in January 2003 and was
given a three- year interim accreditation by the National
Accreditation Board (NAB) in September 2007, to run the
basic sciences.
Prof. Obeng pointed out that currently there were just about
2,100 medical doctors registered with the Ghana Medical and
Dental Council and described the situation as highly
inadequate, given the small number of doctors trained by the
existing medical schools each year and coupled with the high
rate of attrition of doctors and the high population growth
rate in the country.
Prof. Obeng said the UCC has contributed immensely in the
training of the requisite human resource for the country’s
educational sector and stressed that the establishment of
the medical school would also go along way to provide
adequate and easily accessible healthcare to the citizens of
the country.
He said the three-year accreditation given the schools
throws a challenge to UCC and asked all stakeholders
particularly deans, directors of faculties schools and
centres to contribute some of their savings to support the
Medical School to enable it to operate until it is viable
enough to stand on its feet.
Prof. Obeng said the training of the medical doctors was
cost effective, adding that by the National Council For
Tertiary Education records, it cost per year GH¢7,430.15 to
train one undergraduate medical doctor and pointed out that,
what the students were paying was highly subsidized by the
government and commended the government for its
contributions towards the establishment of the school.
Prof Obeng said following the problems the UCC faced in
establishing the school, the quality of programmes was going
to come under close scrutiny and that, it therefore behoves
on UCC to maintain a very high standard and hinted that
school was going to establish linkages with the School of
Health Sciences at Grand Valley States, Ohio and Maastricht
Universities for student and lecturer exchange programmes.
The Vice Chancellor called on the students to apply
themselves diligently and be committed to their programme of
study, since the UCC did not compromise on the rigor of its
standards, adding that discipline should be the major
determinant of their success at the school.
Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Education Science and
Sports commended the UCC for establishing the medical school
after going through a lot of problems and assured the school
of the government’s supports.
He said the schools was established at the time that the
country was facing challenges, such as the brain-drain,
doctor-patient ratio, sustenance of the National Health
Insurance Scheme (NHIS)and asked that the school should
endeavour to train doctors who would come out with pragmatic
programmes to help solve the problems facing the health
sector in the country.
He asked the students to justify the efforts put in the
establishment the school, which, he said, was almost killed
at its birth and take their studies seriously.
Dr Aaron Offei, Central Regional Director of Health
Services, said the country has come of age to have many more
centres of excellence to train medical doctors and stressed
that the school should be able to train doctors who would
help address the health needs of the country, particularly
in the south-western corridor of the country.
He said the Ghana Health Service would sign a memorandum of
understanding with the school authorities so that the
students could use facilities of the service for their
training programmes.
Professor Harold Amonoo-Kuofi, Dean of the School, said the
aim of the school was to train “critical doctors” who would
help address the health needs of the country and that the
school’s programmes would be an integrated one to replace
the traditional learning with a more holistic approach that
inspires reflection, personal growth and enlightenment.
He said the programme would also expose the students to
group problem solving programmes, investigative case
studies, and peer teaching so as to produce students who
would be intelligent, critical, confident and very adaptable
to situations within the communities in which they find
themselves.
Among those present at the ceremony were the His Eminence,
Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor former
Minister of Defence, Nana Ato Arthur, Central Regional
Minister, Rt. Reverend Bishop Aboagye Mensah former
Moderator of the Methodist Church and Osabarima Kwesi Atta
II, Omanhene of Oguaa Traditional Council and some
representatives from the World Health Organisation.
GNA
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