Cameroon's health infrastructure is organized into the 10 Regions containing 189 health districts and 1800 health areas managed by the Cameroonian Ministry of Public Health. There were approximately 5166 public and private health facilities spread throughout the national territory in 2016. Access to health services in Cameroon in 2016 was at 2.19 health facilities per 10,000 inhabitants.
Besides public hospitals, there are also non-profit hospitals managed for the most part by religious organizations.
Large hospitals in Cameroon, such as the 650 bed-Central Hospital of Yaoundé founded in 1933, date from the French and British rule period. Beginning in 2016.
There are district hospitals in most districts and regional hospitals in all Regions except the East Region.
The Ministry of Public Health has established nine health districts in the Adamawa Region.
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The Ministry of Public Health has established 14 health districts in the East Region.
The Ministry of Public Health has divided the North Region into 15 health districts. There are two health districts for Garoua. The regional hospital is in Garoua.
The Ministry of Public Health has established 24 health districts in the Littoral Region. Nkongsamba.
The Ministry of Public Health has established 30 health districts in the Centre Region. There are 27 district hospitals, one Central Hospital and University (CHU), and one regional hospital in the Centre Region.
The system in Cameroon is a mix of public and private sectors, with varying levels of care available. Public hospitals are generally more accessible and affordable, while private hospitals often provide higher standards of care.
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However, for complex medical conditions, expats and travelers may choose to seek treatment abroad, as specialized care and doctors might be limited.
Cameroon’s health system is still widely underdeveloped, having a not-so-enviable doctor-to-patient ratio of 1 doctor to 50,000 persons.
Even so, the state of Cameroon, as well as some NGOs and religious organizations, have succeeded in setting up specialist centers in several parts of the country.
Specialist hospitals are medical facilities that provide diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up on specific diseases, medical conditions, certain body parts, or specific age groups. Such facilities boast the infrastructure, personnel, and equipment to deliver effective medical care.
If you're moving to Cameroon or recently arrived, it's important to know about the country's top hospitals for specific medical conditions. Here's a primer. Here's a guide to the top hospitals in Cameroon for specific medical conditions and surgeries.
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Specialist Hospitals in Cameroon
Below is a list of specialist Hospitals in Cameroon and their locations:
Hospitals in Douala, Cameroon
Gynecology Centers
1. Yaoundé Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Pediatric Center
The center was officially opened in March 2022 and specialized in caring for mothers and children. The government of Cameroon funded the project with assistance from China.
Built on a total surface area of 12 000 square meters, this hospital has a capacity of 118 beds. It provides general consultation, surgery, emergency services, hospitalization, surgical wards, and a morgue. The center also has at least eight incubators.
2. Douala Gyneco-Obstetrics And Pediatric Hospital (Hgoped)
The Douala gyneco-obstetrics and pediatric center is in the Yassa neighborhood, Douala V sub-division.
Apart from general medicine, the Douala gyneco-obstetrics and pediatric hospital offer the following specialist services:
- Pediatrics
- Gyneco-obstetrics
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Odontology
- Cardiology
Cardiology Centers
A cardiology center, also called a heart hospital, specializes in diagnosing and treating heart diseases and cardiovascular systems. Such hospitals have highly qualified personnel (cardiologists) who may perform cardiovascular procedures.
A cardiology center may provide other health services to their patients, like general consultation, ophthalmology, etc.
Several health structures offer cardiology services, but for the sake of this article, we shall look at two of Cameroon's biggest cardiology centers: the Cardiac center Shisong and the Fako Heart Center.
1. Shisong Cardiac Center
The Cardiac Center Shisong is located in Shisong, Kumbo, a locality in the Northwest Region of Cameroon.
The Cardiac Center Shisong was inaugurated by the Minister of Health in 2019 and commissioned as a public Utility in November 2015 by Cameroon’s head of state. They offer services in general cardiology, open heart surgeries, catheterization, and implantations. In 2018, the Cardiac center Shisong was the only hospital that performed open heart surgery in Cameroon.
2. Fako Heart Center
The Fako heart center is a privately owned health facility located in Buea, the regional headquarters of Cameroon’s southwest region.
The Fako Heart center opened its doors in June 2019 and is specialized in treating issues related to the heart, like palpitation, chest pain, Heart Failure, and Heart Attack, among others. They also provide general consultations, diagnosis, and treatment of various diseases, including Kidney Failure, Stroke, Diabetes, and HIV/AIDS.
Specialist Eye Hospitals
1. Acha Eye Hospitals
The health service of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon runs the Acha Eye Hospitals. There are three main Eye Hospitals and other smaller clinics in different locations across Cameroon.
The eye service of the PCC started operations in 1979 under the Presbyterian general hospital in Tugi, a locality in the Momo division, Northwest region, Cameroon. Its headquarters was moved to its present site in Bafoussam, and the regional headquarter of the West region of Cameroon, which is easily accessible and centrally located.
The headquarters of the Acha Eye hospitals is in Bafoussam; other Satellite Clinics are:
- Eye hospital, Acha-Douala (Bepanda)
- Eye hospital, Acha-Yaounde (Nsimeyong)
- Eye hospital, Acha-Limbe (Down beach)
- Eye hospital, Acha- Tugi
- Eye hospital, Acha-Kumba
- Eye hospital, Acha-Bamenda
Apart from the wide range of eye care offered, the Acha hospitals also carry out, Surgical procedures, optical workshops, and glass dispensing services where different types and qualities of eye lenses are being prescribed and shaped. They also have hospitalization units.
2. Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute
Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute (MICEI) is an ultra-modern hospital specializing in eye care. The center is a leading structure within the Central African region.
Officially opened by the Africa Eye Foundation in 2016, this eye hospital was a vision of three organizations, i.e. International Council of Ophthalmology (OIC), Al Noor - Magrabi Foundation (a non-profit foundation registered in Egypt), Afin Que Chaque Vie Compte (AQCV) Foundation (a non-profit foundation registered in Switzerland).
The Magrabi ICO eye hospital is located in the center region of Cameroon, precisely at Obak, a locality V On the Road to Okola. About a 45 minutes drive from Yaounde (approximately 25km).
Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye institute provides international standard eye care services to men and women of all ages. The institute is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and well-trained health personnel, including national and international specialists covering virtually all areas of ophthalmologic practice. The institute also serves as a training center in vision-related services. They offer long-distance training, consultations, hospitalizations, surgeries, and outreach.
Oncology Centers
Cameroon Oncology Center, Bekoko
The Cameroon oncology center is a specialist health structure specializing in diagnosing and treating cancer. The center covers various cancer-related medicine aspects, including medical hematology, oncology, and surgical and neurological surgery. They also offer psychological care, clinical-experimental oncology, biometry, and oncological rehabilitation.
Built on about 5000 square meters., the Cameroon Oncology center is located at Bekoko, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Douala.
Psychiatric Centers
1. Hopital Jamot Yaoundé
Hospital Jamot is a psychiatric hospital located in Mballa II, Yaoundé. Created in 1933 as an annex, the center became autonomous in 1987. This hospital is specialized in the treatment of respiratory and mental illnesses.
The hospital is equipped with a Laboratory and two functional imagery rooms. They run a round-the-clock Emergency unit and a hospitalization unit.
Other notable centers psychiatric centers in Cameroon are:
- Center de santé mentale Benoit MENNI in Mvolye, Yaoundé was created in 1993. This center offers medical and Paramedical services besides treatment for patients with mental health issues. The psychological support and sensitization to demystify Mental illnesses in Cameroon.
- Institute convergence Psy santé douala.
Hemodialysis Centers
Hemodialysis is when a machine filters wastes, salts, and fluid from your blood when your kidneys are no longer healthy enough to perform this task adequately. So, hemodialysis is one of the procedures usually needed in case of kidney failure.
There is also the possibility of a Kidney transplant to replace a bad kidney, but that option is not yet available in Cameroon.
Top Hospitals for Specific Medical Conditions
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