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Medical Board Threatens to Prosecute Founder of `Fake' Medical School
The NEWS (Monrovia)
NEWS
March 31, 2005
Posted to the web March 31, 2005
By Alloycious David
Monrovia
Liberia Medical Board has threatened to turn over the founder of the "fake" St. Luke Medical School and his collaborators to the Justice Ministry for prosecution if they continue to "abuse and insult" the integrity and professionalism" of the country's Medical Board.
The Board said it cannot and will not discuss application of any doctor from the Medical School because there is no school in Liberia known as the St.Luke Medical School.
The Board noted that unless the "illegal school" can be accredited, it would not license any doctor that it has given diploma to.
Prof. S. Benson Barh, Chief Medical Officer of Liberia, told reporters Tuesday that the 'counterfeit school' through Dr. Meimei Dukuly presented a list of 19 doctors who reportedly completed studies at St. Luke Medical School for the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD).
Annoyed over dubious existence of the institution, Dr. Barh said it was shameful to have learned that a list of reported trained doctors, who claimed to have passed through the walls of the school, was presented to the Medical Board.
" We are not aware and have no knowledge of the medical school, but we will rather warn representatives of the bogus school to legally and properly apply to operate a medical institution in Liberia," he stressed.
Speaking further on the issue of the 'medical school', the Chief Medical Officer pointed out that, "No body is against the establishment of a medical school in this country, but there is a need to meet all requirements prescribed by this Broad." Speaking further, Dr. Barh revealed that the illegal St. Luke Medical School has three documents to substantiate its bogus operation, which include an article of incorporation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an Act of Legislature, legitimizing the establishment of the School and a letter of attestation from the Commission on Higher Education, Ministry of Education allowing preparatory activities for its establishment.
He, amongst many other things noted, that the Medical Broad visited the school's so- called campus and observed that what it saw does not even represent a status of an elementary school's campus, adding in reality, the building is a "run down" dwelling home under major renovation which lacks electricity, laboratory, class rooms, running water among others basic requirements for a representation of a medical institution.
Dr. Barh, who is also the Deputy Health Minister, told journalists that after their visit at the campus, members of the Board met at a regular session and made recommendations to the school concerning the filthiness on its campus.
Also speaking, Dr. Tabeh L. Freeman, Acting Dean of the A.M. Dogliotti Collage of Medicine at the University Of Liberia, said the issue was serious and should not be taken lightly.