KNUST seeks partnership to train more doctors

Authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), have entreated stakeholders to forge closer collaboration with the University to help advance its course in medical education.

Professor William Otoo Ellis, the Vice-Chancellor, said such partnership has become necessary given the growing number of applicants for its medical programmes.

“It is high time we put premium on expanding facilities at the SMS to put the School in the position to train more doctors to help improve healthcare delivery”, he noted.

Addressing the 22nd Oath-Swearing and Induction Ceremony of the KNUST School of Medical Sciences (SMS) in Kumasi on Saturday, the Vice-Chancellor bemoaned the exodus of Ghanaian students to China and other countries to pursue medical education and noted that the trend ought to be stemmed.

“Many students with good grades and results applying for the SMS are unfortunately denied admission due to limited facilities,” he said.

He announced that work on the first phase of the KNUST Teaching Hospital is in progress and urged the private sector to come on board by contributing meaningfully towards its successful completion.

The ceremony which coincided with the launch of the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the SMS saw a total of 168 newly-qualified doctors being inducted under the auspices of the Ghana Medical and Dental Council.

Established in 1975, the School was originally mandated to train Physicians, Medical Scientists and Medical Laboratory Technologists, and had so far trained a total of 2, 218 doctors.

It had over the years evolved and expanded in its academic programmes, including the training of post-graduate doctors for the professional membership and fellowship certification of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, as well as the West Africa Post-graduate Medical College.

The SMS currently has the largest number of departments in the University.

Professor Ellis cited the establishment of a Dental School and School of Veterinary Medicine by the KNUST authorities as part of efforts to provide the needed manpower to address issues relating to public health.

The School of Veterinary Medicine, he said, graduated its first batch of 10 Doctors in June, this year, and that they would soon be inducted in line with requirements by the Medical and Dental Council.

In addition, a School of Public Health was also established last academic year to add up to the avenues for a holistic healthcare training and education at the University.

Professor Ellis charged the newly-qualified Doctors to strive to abide by professional ethics to enhance their work.