AMOs, COs won’t be recognised as doctors

ROSE ATHUMANI in Dodoma

ASSISTANT Medical Officers (AMOs) and Clinical Officers won’t be recognised as Assistant Doctors as they recommended to the ministry because they lack the required qualifications for the title.

The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Community Service and Development, Mr Joseph Serukamba (Kigoma West- CCM) reported here that the Ministry of health, community development, gender, children and the elderly has rejected the recommendation in which they wanted to be recognised as medical practitioners.
Clarifying the matter, Mr Serukamba said the concerned ministry stresses that the two will be recognised as allied health professionals.
Mr Serukamba made the remarks yesterday when making evaluation of opinions, views and recommendations presented by different stakeholders from the health sector towards improving the Medical, Dental and Allied Health Professional Bill 2016.
The Bill which seeks to repeal the existing Medical and Dental Act No, 152 of 1959 and re-establish an independent Medical Council of Tanganyika charged with overall supervision of the health sector, was first tabled by the government in the National Assembly last November.
The AMOs and COs who are estimated to be about 3,000 wanted to be recognised as Assistant Doctors and hence removed from the allied health professional group which lamps together different health professionals.
Mr Serukamba stressed that the respective ministry recognises contribution made by the AMOs and COs in providing health services in the health sector but added they cannot be recognised as Assistant Doctors because they do not have the required qualifications.
They have advanced diplomas. He explained that for them to be recognised as medical practitioners they must go back and study for five years, “otherwise you will continue staying in the allied health professional groups.”