Health care in Cameroon is in crisis, with thousands of doctors leaving the country for better opportunities abroad. The exodus of medical professionals has reached alarming levels, with a 70 percent increase in passport applications and visa requests. The Cameroon Medical Council reports that the doctor-patient ratio has plummeted to one doctor per 50,000 people, far below the World Health Organization’s recommended ratio of one doctor per 10,000 patients.
The reasons for this mass exodus are clear – doctors are fleeing hardship, poor pay, difficult working conditions, and high unemployment rates. Dr. Peter Louis Ndifor, the vice president of the Cameroon Medical Council, expressed his disappointment in the government’s failure to retain trained doctors. With only 5,000 to 6,000 doctors remaining out of the 13,000 registered, the healthcare system is in distress.
Cameroon is in dire need of at least 30,000 health workers, including doctors, to address the multiple crises facing the country. Despite efforts to train more doctors, the government’s recruitment efforts are hampered by financial constraints. Private hospitals offer meager salaries of $100 per month, while government hospitals pay around $220 per month, driving medical professionals to seek opportunities abroad.
Jathor Godlove, a 29-year-old unemployed doctor, shared his struggles after seven years of medical school. He highlighted the limited opportunities and poor pay that force many healthcare workers to consider leaving Cameroon for better prospects in Europe and North America. The lack of equipment and low wages are pushing nurses, midwives, and laboratory technicians to join doctors in seeking opportunities abroad.
While some healthcare workers offer voluntary services in hospitals, the majority face financial hardships and delayed payments. President Paul Biya’s call for patriotism and service to the homeland has been met with skepticism by medical professionals who demand improved living conditions and hospital facilities to stem the tide of emigration.
In conclusion, the healthcare crisis in Cameroon underscores the urgent need for government intervention to retain skilled medical professionals and improve the overall healthcare system. The exodus of doctors is a symptom of deeper issues that require immediate attention to ensure the well-being of the population.
