The Ghana Medical and Dental Council (MDC) has declared that it would not recognize Medical and Dental Degree Certificates produced by Ukrainian Medical and Dental Schools until normal academic operations resume in that country.
In a public notice, the Council also advised students who are currently studying Medicine or Dentistry in Ukraine and have not taken advantage of the opportunity to continue their education in Ghana to seek transfer to other accredited Medical or Dental Schools in other countries to complete their programs.
Ghanaian medical students studying in Ukraine have been moved to Grenada.
It will be recalled that the government formed a 13-member committee in May to develop rules for integrating Ghanaian students from Ukraine into the country’s institutions to complete their studies.
UDS to integrate Ghanaian students from Ukraine
Dr. Anthony Nsiah- Asare, Special Advisor to the President on Health Issues, presided over the committee. Representatives from the Students Representative Council (SRC), the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the Medical and Dental Council, the Scholarship Secretariat, Vice-Chancellors of Medical Schools, and the Rector of the College of Physicians and Surgeons were among those who served on the committee.
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Background
Ghanaian medical students in Ukraine had their study cut short owing to disruptions caused by the country’s ongoing war with Russia.
As a result, Ukrainian medical and dentistry schools are presently offering online training to students who are unable to return to the classroom.
Professional standards
The MDC, on the other hand, insists that any online medical or dentistry training falls short of recognized professional training requirements and would not be recognised in Ghana.
In addition, the Council said its attention “has been drawn to information that some students are undergoing ONLINE Medical and Dental training being organized by schools in Ukraine, China and some other countries”.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Council categorically states that ONLINE Medical or Dental training done in any part of the world is short of acceptable professional training standards and is NOT recognized by the Medical and Dental Council, Ghana,” the notice reads.
“In the light of above, the Medical and Dental Council, Ghana will NOT honour any Medical or Dental Degree Certificates issued at the end of any ONLINE Medical or Dental training”.
Affected students livid
Ghanaian students studying medicine and dentistry in Ukraine have voiced their dissatisfaction with the MDC’s decision not to recognize their certificates.
Henry Brook Smith, an Executive Member of the National Union of Ghana Students in Ukraine, stated that the decision was made without consulting the affected stakeholders.
“Ukraine is currently running an offline mode. The online is being organized for those who can’t make it to Ukraine due to the invasion. Our concern is that, this decision has been taken without recourse to the effects on parents and students,” he said in an interview with Citi FM.
Read Full Statement Below:
SOURCE: GRAPHICONLINE
