LAQUANTINIE/YCH SCANDALS: HEALTH MINISTER GIVES MORE DIRECTIVES…EMPTY TALK OR REGAINING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE?

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There are indications that the scandals at the Laquantinie Hospital in Douala and the Central Hospital in Yaounde in March 2016, are giving Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health sleepless nights.

In a March 31 2016 statement, which sounded like corrective measures  addressing and avoiding a repeat of the Koumateke and Nkimih cases, the Minister gave six months to Managing Directors of Central, Regional, District hospitals and Chief medical officers, for results.

Andre Mama Fouda said the management in hospitals must be immediate, in attending to life serving emergency cases without demanding any prior payment and that the movement of patients within hospitals  be supervised by the medical staff. 

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The Minister recommended  that all medical staff be fully identified with badges, vehicles   searched upon entrance and exit and that Directors of  Central and Regional Hospital  set up video surveillance systems at access and hot points within a six month period.

The Public Health Minister recognizes that public hospitals have lost the confidence of patients who considers such structures as  hostile environments, characterized by extortion and all forms of abuses.

He also spoke to of unannounced visits and sanctions.

Could the Minister’s directives regain public confidence in public hospitals or should be considered cheap talk?  
Draw conclusions after reading  full document of four pages.