A team from the Medical and Dental Council (MDC), Ghana has begun assessment of training facilities and academic programmes of the School of Medical Sciences (SMS) of the University of Cape Coast (UCC).

The assessment is in line with Part II of the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act 2013 (ACT 857) which enjoins the MDC to ensure that training facilities and programmes of Medical and Dentistry institutions meet required standards.

The Registrar of the MDC, Dr Divine N. Banyubala, at a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, and Faculty of SMS, said the exercise formed part of the Council’s mandate as the regulatory body for medical training and practice in Ghana.

It is the core statutory duty provided under section 27 of Part II of Act 857 that the Council shall assess facilities and contents of programmes for the training of doctors and dentists and physician assistants in training institutions” he explained.

He added that the MDC team based on their findings would write a quality assessment report and recommend accreditation/re-accreditation/ provisional accreditation or no accreditation for the UCC SMS.

Dr. Banyubala, therefore, indicated that the checklist of inspection included governance structure, academic programme, staffing norms, student selection and admission policy, students and students’ welfare, among others. 

For his part, Prof. Boampong thanked the MDC for its diligence to ensure Medical and Dentistry institutions in the country adhered to standards to produce professional medical doctors, dentists and physician assistants. 

The Vice-Chancellor was confident that UCCSMS would meet the team’s standards after the exercise.

The Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong speaking at the meeting

Prof. Boampong praised the MDC for its commitment to professionalism and effective

monitoring of Medical and Dentistry institutions in the country.

The MDC Team is made up of Prof. Emmanuel Addo-Yobo, Prof. Tsiri Agbenyega, Prof. Patrick Agyei, Prof. Harry Tabor, Prof Stephen Tabiri, Dr. Edna Kasalo, Dr. Rodrick Larsen-Reindolf, Dr. Divine Banyubala, and Ms. Memunatu Abdulai.

Present at the meeting were the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rosemond Boohene, Registrar, Mr Jeff Teye Onyame, the Provost of the College of Health and Allied Sciences, Prof. Martins Ekor, Dean of SMS, Prof. Sebastian Eliason, as well as some faculty from UCCSMS.