The Yaounde Conference Centre was exceptionally busy on August 13, 2015. The event was the certificate award ceremony of the second batch of Medical Doctors, Masters Degree in Clinical Biology students and the first batch of Public Health specialists of the Higher Institute of Medical Technology (ISTM) Nkolondom near Yaounde.

A total of 67 Medical Doctors, six Masters Degree students in Clinical Biology and 11 Public Health specialists took the Hippocratic Oath after years of hard work.

Friends, relatives and well-wishers thronged the venue with bouquets of flowers to congratulate the graduates. Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Higher Education, Jacques Fame Ndongo, called on the graduates to give credible clinical diagnoses and show proof of efficiency in their prescriptions.

He appealed to them to put patients first instead of money. The Minister advised the graduating students not to sleep on their laurels, but to work hard and improve on their theory and practical knowledge through the daily interactions with patients.

Concerning aspiring candidates for the medical, pharmaceutical or dental professions, Jacques Fame Ndongo reiterated that beginning this year, a National Proficiency Examination for medical training in one session, but divided into two distinct modules (public and private), with the same questions, markers and jury, will be organised.

Candidates will be limited to only one institution and one field of study to solve the problem of dropout due to lack of funding after admission. This, according to him, will enable the students better understand their choice of any public or private institution.