Gambia medical council delays block 35+ doctors
China-trained graduates face licensing hurdles, prompting some to seek work abroad.
More than 35 Gambian medical graduates trained in China are unable to work in the country due to prolonged licensing delays by the Medical and Dental Council. The China-Gambia Alumni Students’ Association reported that these doctors completed their studies and clinical training, with some having finished mandatory internships in China and rotations at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital. The association stated that the Council recognizes their degrees but not their internship certificates, unlike graduates from other countries.
The association is calling on the government and parliament to intervene in the dispute, as over 35 doctors have already left The Gambia for countries like the US and Morocco due to frustration with the Council. Some graduates are considering returning to Morocco, Europe, Asia, or America where they can obtain licenses without redoing internships. The graduates also question why they face additional internship requirements when they sat the same licensing examination in November 2024 and August 2026.
Modou Secka, the association's president, warned that these delays exacerbate The Gambia's doctor shortage, pushing the doctor-to-patient ratio further below the World Health Organization's standard. He noted that the lack of a clear registration path hinders career planning and wastes public and international investment in medical education. Graduates who faced similar issues previously returned to Morocco for licensing.
Why it mattersGambia's health system faces a shortage of doctors because the Medical and Dental Council is delaying the licensing of over 35 China-trained medical graduates.