Liberia: Jahmale Booked for Employing Unlicensed Imaging and Laboratory Technicians

Monrovia, September 4, 2024 – Jahmale Med Solutions, a prominent for profit medical and diagnostic facility in Paynesville, is facing serious consequences of medical malpractice after being found in flagrant violation of the Laws governing medical practice in the Republic of Liberia.

A spot check conducted by the Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC) on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, as part of its regulatory routine revealed that nine individuals who are currently working in the Imaging Department of JAHMALE Hospital are practicing without being licensed by LMDC. Particularly of grave concern is the fact that the JAHMALE Hospital has hired foreign medical practitioners to practice in Liberia illegally, something that is highly unlikely particularly in Ghana from whence all of the foreign culprits hailed.

The inspection, 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 hired in the imaging department of JAHMALE Hospital are working illegally under the Liberia medical jurisdiction. The unlicensed professionals identified include Radiographers Theresa Akoto Bamford, Samuel Lartey, Stephen G. Akpozah, and Richard Asamoah from Ghana, as well as 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 practicing as Diagnostic Medical Sonographers without licensure.

Dr. Andrews emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that Jahmale Med Solutions as an entity will be sanctioned for hiring unqualified professionals. Additionally, the medical professionals involved will be sanctioned individually for practicing medicine illegally. The sanctions range from huge fines to prosecution as mandated by the Act of National Legislature creating the Liberia Medical and Dental Council.

“This is a clear breach of the law,” Dr. Andrews asserted. “Medical facilities must operate within the legal framework to ensure the safety and well-being of patients. Jahmale Med Solutions’ actions are not only illegal but also pose significant risks to public health.”

Dr. Andrews also highlighted the challenges the LMDC faces in enforcing medical regulations across the country. She pointed out that the Council lacks sufficient resources, she furthered that currently the LMDC does not have any functional vehicle to conduct regular inspections and monitoring.

“We are urgently calling for budgetary support from the government,” Dr. Andrews stated. “If violations like this can happen in a major facility right here in Monrovia, one can only imagine the potential risks in more isolated regions, especially in facilities run by concession companies in rural areas”

The LMDC Chairperson appealed to both government and international partners to provide logistical support, including vehicle and training programs, to enhance the Council’s capacity to regulate medical practices effectively across the country.

A detailed investigation into Jahmale Med Solutions is ongoing, and the LMDC has vowed to continue its efforts to ensure all medical facilities in Liberia comply with the country’s stringent medical standard in the interest of our people.

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