Almost three years after losing its certification from the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine, the medical school of the University of Guyana (UG) has been reaccredited, albeit with a few conditions.
The University reported on Wednesday that it was recently accorded Accreditation for four years from 2017-2021 by the Jamaica-based Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP). The decision to grant reaccreditation was made during the July 2017 meeting of CAAM-HP.
According to the University of Guyana, the reaccreditation of the Medical School, located in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Turkeyen campus, followed a site visit to UG in November 2016 by a team of evaluators from CAAM-HP who conducted a comprehensive re-evaluation of the teaching/learning facilities available at the School. The team also met with the various administrative sections of the University and medical students.
UG’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith congratulated the faculty, students and staff of the School of Medicine. He said it was a “signally important decision” and expressed appreciation to personnel and students of the School.
“This investment of time and resources by the University in the reaccreditation of the School of Medicine is a tribute to the entire University and it strengthens our brand overall as we pursue Project Renaissance,” he said.
He further stated that a substantial amount of time and money will be required to complete the needed enhancements of the flagship programme.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Director of the School, Dr Ronald Aaron, who emphasised that the accreditation was a result of “community effort, now the real work begins.”
President of the University of Guyana Medical Students’ Association, Shafali Milton, expressed pride in the role played by the students in the eventual outcome.
“The road to regain our status as a regionally accredited medical school was filled with countless challenges. However, we in the student body were undaunted and did everything in our power to assist. We are elated at the result of hard work from both the administration and the student body…”
Milton said the UGSM has regained its position as a prestigious institution in the Caribbean, one which the current students as well as its alumni can be proud to be associated with.
“We look forward to new endeavours as the journey continues,” she said.
The Medical School was established in 1985 in the Faculty of Health Sciences as a Medical Practitioners programme which included four years of medical training and two years of internship.
This was upgraded in 1990 to a five-year programme followed by a one-year internship.
To date, the School has graduated more than 500 doctors who are working in Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Caricom region and locally in leading positions in the healthcare sector.
Notable graduates include the current Junior Public Health Minister, the Chief Medical Officer, Heads of Paediatrics, General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Cardiology, Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
The School of Medicine lost its accreditation in April 2015 after a visit from the accreditation body revealed that a number of recommendations to improve the institution were not adhered to. The School was offered accreditation for the periods 2008 to 2009, 2009 to 2012 and 2014 to 2015.
