Zero Tolerance: MoH Warns Nursing School Admission Fraudsters

The *Ministry of Health* has announced a strict zero-tolerance policy against extortion and bribery in nursing training institutions’ admissions, warning that anyone found culpable will face severe sanctions.

Head of the Health Training Institutions Unit at the Ministry, *Mr. Tony Goodman*, disclosed this in an exclusive interview following complaints from the public about fraudsters demanding money for admission slots.

According to Mr. Goodman, the Ministry is working closely with the Police and the Bureau of National Investigations, BNI, to identify and arrest syndicates defrauding unsuspecting applicants.

*“The Honorable Minister for Health is interested in having a proper and stress-free system,”* he said. *“So, it started with the introduction of this online portal where you can sit in your house and apply for your nursing admission through your mobile phone.”*

He added that the Minister also directed that student allowances be paid on time as part of reforms to make the process transparent.

Mr. Goodman said the Ministry has tightened admission procedures to ensure only qualified applicants are accepted.

*“One of the things he actually talked about is the credibility of admissions we do. Persons who say that I got admission because I paid money. So, all of these things were removed. We followed every process and made sure that until the person is qualified, you cannot admit that person.”*

He noted that investigations by the BNI and Police have already led to several arrests, with some suspects arraigned in court. The two agencies, he said, will continue monitoring admission-related fraud throughout the academic year.

The Ministry is also cautioning prospective students and parents against paying bribes or dealing with middlemen.

*“Genuine recruitment processes do not require financial inducement,”* Mr. Goodman warned. *“We would monitor. This academic year, we'll make sure that anybody who goes beyond our remit or the rules we have set for ourselves... the punishment must be meted out to you to serve as a deterrent to others. We can't have a banana republic. Everybody must obey rules and regulations.”*

He stressed that the reforms are to safeguard the quality of health professionals trained in the country.