It is often mentioned without people knowing how true it is. But indeed, medical doctors in Cameroon earn less than FCfa 190,000. This, however, after a minimum of seven years of study in a medical school.

Which is revolting to the association “Médecins du Cameroon” (MedCamer) when some public institutions are asking health workers to attend a march to thank the government for introducing free access to healthcare for them.

In a rallying message addressed to their colleagues in March 2017, Dr Massongo Massongo, Secretary General of MedCamer, revealed that, “the average salary of a medical doctor is between FCfa 155,300 and 173,000, largely below the minimum of FCfa 500,000 suggested after review to enable a doctor to live with a minimum of decency in Cameroon in 2017”.

Compared to other specialised trades such as education for example, health workers appear to be the poor relation. A high school teach earns FCfa 226,000, after five years of training. A police chief (Bac+5) earns a minimum of FCfa 180,000. A magistrate at the start of his career, Bac+5, is paid FCfa 264,505.

S.A