By Jamesetta D Williams
The Liberia Medical and Dental Council has concluded a 15-day nationwide stakeholders engagement aimed at strengthening professionalism and improving healthcare service delivery across Liberia, while also deploying 65 intern doctors to health facilities and preparing for a nationwide health facilities assessment.
The engagement meetings, conducted in April 2026, covered several counties including Montserrado County, Bong County, Nimba County, Grand Bassa County, Maryland County, Lofa County and other parts of the country. The sessions brought together county and district health officers, nurses, midwives, surgeons, hospital administrators, and other health stakeholders.
The meetings were led by LMDC Registrar General Dr. Augustus G. Quiah, Medical and Research Director Joseph J. Colmah, and Deputy Medical and Research Director Dorbor Kolubah Kabba.
During the engagements, the LMDC emphasized customer service in healthcare, calling for equal and professional treatment of patients regardless of social status or personal relationships.
Presentations also focused on surgical practices in Liberia, delays in reducing maternal and newborn deaths, and concerns over medical errors allegedly linked to unqualified individuals posing as healthcare professionals.
The Council further stressed the importance of medical ethics, professional conduct, and adherence to healthcare regulations across the country.
Meanwhile, the LMDC has deployed 65 intern doctors to major hospitals nationwide as part of efforts to strengthen clinical capacity and healthcare delivery.
According to the Council, the group includes both locally and internationally trained graduates, made up of 40 males and 25 females.
Some of the interns received medical training in countries including Cuba, China, Russia, Sudan, Kenya, and the Philippines, as well as at the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine.
The interns have been assigned to several major referral and regional hospitals, including John F. Kennedy Memorial Referral Hospital, ELWA Hospital, St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital, and the 14 Military Hospital. Others were deployed to J.J. Dossen Hospital, Jackson F. Doe Memorial Regional Referral Hospital, United Methodist Hospital, and Dussa Hospital.
Under the one-year internship program, the doctors will rotate through Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, and Surgery under the supervision of senior consultants and hospital management teams.
The LMDC noted that the internship is mandatory before full licensure and independent medical practice in Liberia.
The Council also disclosed that interns who underperform or engage in misconduct may face disciplinary actions, reassignment, or repetition of clinical rotations in line with existing regulations.
In another development, the LMDC has begun preparations for a nationwide health facilities assessment scheduled for May 2026.
The exercise is expected to evaluate the cleanliness, operational standards, and legal compliance of medical institutions across Liberia’s fifteen counties.
Through its Medical and Research Director Joseph J. Colmah, the Council has conducted training sessions for assessment personnel, urging them to uphold integrity, confidentiality, fairness, and professionalism during the process.
The Chairperson of the Council, Dr. Ayun K. Cassell III, called on assessment teams to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and urged both public and private health institutions to cooperate fully with the nationwide exercise.
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