Medical doctors in Sierra Leone have in a strongly worded letter addressed to the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby lambasted him over the circumstances that led to the “disrespectful dismissal of the Chief Medical Officer from office”, in addition to their consternation and disgust over the way and manner the medical professional head in that ministry, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) was treated with utter disdain by the minister.

The letter from the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA) dated 25^th October, 2021stated among other things that: “We vehemently condemn the unprecedented, disrespectful dismissal of the head of the medical profession, the CMO. We are gravely concerned that the Office of the Chief Medical Officer has been treated with such contempt, inferiority and insignificance. As a professional body seeking the welfare of all Medical Doctors in the practice of Medicine in Sierra Leone and determined to improve the health of the nation, we are equally extremely concerned that the Office of the Chief Medical Officer can be treated with such vindictive condescension. This is not the first time a minister is taking aggressive actions against a CMO; and we want to put a stop to such acts.”

They added that “it is palpable that this is part of the colossal game plan to marginalize Medical Doctors in the health sector, subdue them to subsidiarity and radically exclude them from top decision making in the health sector. We are in solidarity with the fact that the Chief Medical Officer should be allowed to execute his official functions professionally.”

The doctors explained that their attention was drawn to a number of correspondences between the Minister of Health and Sanitation and the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Rev. Canon Dr. TT Samba leading to the latter’s dismissal on Terminal Leave, adding that the SLMDA received a letter of complaint from Dr. TT Samba and went ahead to engage all the parties involved including the Minister to get a clear picture of proceedings.

Since it became apparent thatthe Ministerwas not correct in the treatment he meted to the CNO, the SLMDA in view of this, and in recognition of the fact that the Medical Profession constitutes the main framework of the health sector, made the following demands: that dignity is restored to the medical profession; and are recommending to be delinked from the civil service and the formation of a Health Service Commission; that they strongly recommend for the immediate approval and implementation of the revised scheme of service for the MOHS developed by the SLMDA with no direct entry into technical positions; that implementation of the postings conducted by the Chief Medical Officer and team was broadly consultative and therefore should stand; that the Postings Committee of health professionals at the MOHS should be chaired by the CMO; that change within the health sector should be anchored around the office of the Chief Medical Officer as the main driver of the process; and that a representative committee is constituted to immediately look into the circumstances that have led to the disrespectful dismissal of the Chief

Medical Officer from office.

The SLMDA further requested that extra motivations be provided for Medical Doctors posted to remote areas in Sierra Leone such as relocation and remote allowances.

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