Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health, Dr. Manaouda Malachie has order the shutdown of Polyclinique Marie O- a private clinic in Douala- after it failed to comply with professional norms set by Cameroon’s health ministry and the National Syndicate of Doctors of Cameroon (SYNAMEC).
In a tweet published on Wednesday May 13, the Health boss stated that the establishment, Policlinic Marie O is closed for failing to respond to a 72hours (3day) deadline given it against allegations that it received millions to treat infected Coronavirus patients. Meanwhile, the cost of treatment of CoronaVirus patients rest on the shoulders of the government.
News Upfront gathered that the minister got a tip off of the scandalous situation from a whistleblower on Twitter.
On May 8, 2020, the whistleblower, Zock Federic Francois, called on the minister’s attention stating that a family had deposited the 1 million frs CFA cfa.
This prompted the minister to issue a letter to the said health facility, requesting explanation about a bill of 6million.
Mache Joseph Bertrand, Senior Divisional Officer for Wouri Division, has been charged with sealing Polytechnic Marie O in Douala.
Cameroon’s economic capital, Douala, is second with highest number of CoronaVirus registered cases. This scandal adds to other reports of high charging in Douala hospitals for treatment of the infection and even rejection to receive patients suspected of having the virus.
As of today, 2,954 cases of CoronaVirus infections have been recorded in Cameroon: 1,555 are fully recovered, with 139 deaths.
