The University of Guyana School Of Medicine (UGSM) should have its accreditation restored by June next year says Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton. Norton told the Guyana Chronicle that the issue is a serious one and efforts are already underway to ensure that the accreditation is restored. He said too, that he would be pushing for a government subvention to be granted to the institution as it was in dire need of finances.
At the moment, students who are set to graduate in November will not be able to practice in any other country but Guyana, as their certificates will not be recognised in other jurisdictions given the institution’s lack of accreditation.
UGSM lost its accreditation in July 2015 following an inspection by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP).
Dr. Norton said, “The situation affects us,” noting that while Guyanese students would be unable to practice in other jurisdictions, foreign students who are here would also be unable to practice in their own territories without writing a CAAM-HP examination.
“We are doing everything to get the accreditation back. We have a consultant who specializes in Family Medicine here who is examining the issues which includes infrastructure, labs and so on. By June we expect to be fully accredited again,” said Minister Norton.
CAAM-HP had granted accreditation for the periods 2008 to 2009; 2009 to 2012; and 2013 to 2015. The authority upon its last visit discovered that many of the issues highlighted during its last visit here were not addressed. Those issues were relevant to infrastructural improvements, a review of the curriculum as well as the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among the Ministry of Public Health, UGSM and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for the funding of the school. Those issues were to be dealt with before the return of CAAM-HP this year.
Subvention
The Minister of Public Health acknowledged that the faculty, like the entire campus was starved for financial resources.
“UG needs money…UG needs money to pay staff well, to upgrade the facilities, to ensure the institution is operating at a high standard. If you don’t pay staff well, you won’t attract competent and qualified staff. The Medical Faculty is no different. We need people to be paid well, that is the only way we can attract the level of quality health care practitioners,” the Minister told Guyana Chronicle.
Dr. Norton said he was “pushing for a subvention” to be granted to the Institution. He believes while the UGSM has dire needs, the entire University should benefit from a government subvention.
“I am making every effort to correct the situation,” the Minister stressed, noting that he was yet to receive a report from Dr. Emmanuel Cummings, Dean of UGSM. “I have not received a report yet from Dr. Cummings but I have to speak with him on the issue,” he said.
Asked about the millions of dollars spent by the Government of Guyana (GOG) over the years to pay stipends to local medical students studying in Cuba, and whether that sum could be reduced to assist the UGSM meet the criteria for accreditation, Dr. Norton said there were varying opinions on the matter but he chose not to comment further.
He noted that the quality of training provided in Cuba was high. “We have to start from somewhere… Havana has the oldest university; it is so advanced we won’t be able to reach that stage in the near future.”
He explained that while the local institution needed money, Government in the past provided a stipend to its students studying in Cuba. The stipend was paid in Canadian dollars, he told Guyana Chronicle.
“We train doctors for our system… I have a lot of regard for the locally-trained doctors. Cuba has a lot of advances but I am satisfied with the quality of doctors we produce.”
The Minister disclosed that the “vast majority” of students who receive scholarships to study in Cuba find it difficult to gain entry to UGSM. “They could not get into our medical school; they lack the qualifications to get into our medical school… we don’t flex on that at all. You either qualify or you don’t,” the Public Health Minister stated.
Satisfied
Minister Norton expressed satisfaction with the manner in which the program was being run. He said; “We have come a long way. We have improved gradually. We have brilliant students and brilliant doctors who have specialized in various fields,” he said.
The Minister is alert to the challenges facing the faculty but noted that it is doing well despite the challenges.