KAMPALA – Ministries of Health and Education are in talks to consider establishing a National Examination Board that would assess medical and dental graduates, as a requirement for one to proceed for internship training.
This according to the Ministry of Health is aimed at eliminating incompetent medical practitioners whose number, Ministry says is on the rise.
The revelation was made on Tuesday during a meeting between Parliament’s Health Committee and Officials from the Ministry of Health & Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council, led by the Minister of State for Primary Healthcare, Joyce Moriku Kaducu.
The Registrar Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council, Dr. Katumba Ssentongo said that the proposal is for the examination board to assess medical and dental students at the end of 5th year and before commencing clinical practice.
Katumba castigated Universities for admitting large number of students into the medical and dental courses despite lack of space, equipment and tutors, saying this alone accounts for the poor quality of graduates.
He argued that the proposal to put in place an examination board will motivate universities to put in place the necessary equipment and improve teaching staff.
