By: Alphanso G. Kalama
Paynesville, Liberia– Jahmale Med Solutions, a prominent for-profit medical and diagnostic center in Paynesville, has been cited by the Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC) for hiring foreign nationals without the necessary licenses. An inspection by the LMDC revealed that several foreign medical practitioners, including four individuals from Ghana, were unlawfully working in the facility’s Imaging Department, which poses serious public health risks.
The inspection team, led by Dr. Benetta Collins-Andrews, Chairperson of the LMDC, along with Co-chair Theophous Fayiah and Director of Clinical and Research Joseph Colmah, discovered that four Ghanaians and five Liberians working in the imaging department at Jahmale Med Solutions were doing so without proper authorization under Liberian medical regulations. The unlicensed personnel identified include Ghanaian radiographers Theresa Akoto Bamford, Samuel Lartey, Stephen G. Akpozah, and Richard Asamoah, and Liberian radiographers Adrian S. Jackson, Jackson K. Mullah, and Abraham B. Merriam. Additionally, two Liberians, Lovetta W. Flomo and Decontee Y. Farley-Korgboi, were found working as diagnostic medical sonographers without the required licenses.
Dr. Andrews emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that Jahmale Med Solutions will face sanctions for employing unqualified staff, and those individuals will be subject to penalties for illegal medical practice. These penalties could include substantial fines and potential prosecution, as outlined by the National Legislature’s Act that established the LMDC.
“This constitutes a serious legal violation,” Dr. Andrews stated. “Medical facilities must adhere to legal standards to protect patient safety. Jahmale Med Solutions’ actions are both illegal and dangerous to public health.”
Dr. Andrews also addressed the difficulties faced by the LMDC in enforcing medical regulations nationwide, pointing out that the Council lacks adequate resources and operational vehicles for regular inspections and monitoring.
“We urgently need increased government funding,” Dr. Andrews said. “If such violations occur in a major facility in Monrovia, the risks in more remote areas, particularly in facilities run by concession companies, are even greater.”
The LMDC Chairperson called on the government and international partners for logistical support, including vehicles and training programs, to enhance the Council’s ability to effectively regulate medical practices throughout Liberia.
A thorough investigation of Jahmale Med Solutions is ongoing, and the LMDC has pledged to continue its efforts to ensure that all medical facilities in Liberia adhere to the country’s stringent medical standards for public safety.
