The practice of medicine in private practice is authorized by the decision of
the Council of the Order.
The change of professional residence or geographical area of activity,
and the resumption of activity after an interruption following a
disciplinary sanctions are also authorized by the decision of the Council of
the Order.
AUTHORIZATION FOR PRIVATE PRACTICE OF MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS
IN CAMEROON
The authorization to practice the profession of a doctor in private
practice is subject to the production of a file, in duplicate, deposited at
the headquarters of the Council against a receipt and comprising of the
following;
- an application stamped at the current rate;
- a certificate of nationality dated less than three (3) months
- a certified copy of the birth certificate dated less than three (3)
months old; - a certified copy of the medical diploma and, where applicable,
certificates of specialization, as well as a certificate of presentation of
the original of the said diploma and certificates; - an extract from the criminal record dating back less than three (3)
months; - a certificate of effective professional practice of at least five (5) years
at the date of the application to practice in a personal capacity, issued
by a public administration or the employing body; - a certificate of registration on the roll of the Order, published by the
Council of the Order; - a letter of agreement in principle to release issued by the last
employer, if applicable; - a certificate of payment of all contributions due to the Order, issued
by the Council of the Order.
DOCTORS OF FOREIGN NATIONALITY
A doctor of foreign nationality may only be authorized to practice in
private practice if the country in which he/she is a national has
concluded a reciprocity agreement with the Republic of Cameroon.
In support of his application, he shall, in addition to the documents
listed above, produce a copy of the said reciprocity agreement
authenticated by the Minister in charge of External Relations.
PROCEDURE FOR APPROVAL
The procedure for approving the file remains that provided for by
Article 8 of the above-mentioned law No. 090-036 of 10 August 1990.
Any application obtained under the conditions provided for in Article 8
paragraph (4) of law NO 90-036 of 10 August 1990 is null and void if
it does not comply with the prescriptions of the health map.
The authorization to practice in private practice is personal and non-
transferable.
It indicates the locality where the applicant is called upon to practice
his art.
It is granted to allow the applicant to work in a private health facility,
or to open a private health facility.
The authorization to practice must, under penalty of absolute nullity,
be in conformity with the health card fixed by decree of the Minister in
charge of Public Health.
The doctor authorized to practice in private practice has a period of
twelve (12) months following the notification of the decision of
approval or the entry into force of the latter when it is implicit, to open
his health facility to the public, when he has decided to create one.
After this period and unless the Council grants an extension in
accordance with the provisions of article 38 of the aforementioned law
no. 90-036 of 10 August 1990 the authorization shall lapse.
The doctor authorized to practice in private practice must, upon
notification of the decision or the entry into force of the latter when it
is implicit and before the opening of his or her medical training to the
public, submit to the Council of the Order a copy of the insurance policy
provided for in article 15 of the law mentioned above NO 90-036 of 10
August 1990 aforementioned. This policy covers the professional risks
whose nature is specified by the internal regulations of the profession.
A receipt shall be given to the Council of the Order at the beginning of
each calendar year.
The provisions of paragraph (2) shall also apply to non-trading
companies of doctors provided for in Article 14 of the above-mentioned
law n°90-036 of 10 August 1990.
When the doctor considers that he has completed his health training
in accordance with the regulations in force, he/she shall inform the
Council of the Order, which in turn informs the Minister in charge of
Public Health by any means leaving a written record.
The Council of the Order and the Administration in charge of public
health has, upon notification of the completion of the work, a period
of thirty (30) days to visit this training course before it is opened to the
public. If at the end of this period, the Council of the Order and the
The administration in charge of public health has not responded, and the
the doctor may open his health facility to the public.
When the visit to the premises reveals that the installations do not
allow practicing the profession according to the minimum rules of the
art, the deficiencies are notified to the applicant who must remedy
them.
The opening of the health training course to the public is only
authorized after verification by the Council of the Order and the
Administration in charge of Public Health, of the modifications
required.
The issuance of the letter of agreement in principle of release is
obligatory when the applicant fulfills the seniority condition provided
for by the law to practice in private practice.
The refusal by any employer to issue the letter of agreement in
principle without a valid reason, to the applicant who requests it, may
lead to sanctions against the offender, which may go as far as the
withdrawal of the decision to practice.
When the employer referred to in the previous paragraph is a
the professional civil society of doctors, a religious medical organization or
a legal person under private law, the latter shall incur sanctions which
may go as far as the closure of the health facility where the postulant
works.
The release of the postulant is effective only from the day when, within
the time limit prescribed in Article 22 paragraph (1) of the Law, he can
set up on his own account.
A doctor authorized to practice as a private practitioner must practice
his profession personally and effectively. He may not practice in more
than one health facility at a time or own more than one health facility.