Medical Assistant Psychiatry
The MAP curriculum and related documents can be accessed at the bottom of the page
In Ghana a Medical Assistant Psychiatry (MAP) is a specialist 'Medical Assistant' (MA). Medical Assistants have a high level of responsibility which includes making diagnoses and prescribing medication.
Retention of Medical Assistants has been a problem. One cause of attrition has been a lack of career structure for Medical Assistants. In steps to address this, the Ministry of Health is now introducing specialist courses for Medical Assistants and the first is to be in mental health. There will also eventually be specialisation available in child health, obstetrics, ‘traumatology’, and district surgery. You can read about why more mental health workers are needed on our 'What are We Doing' page
Brief summary of the MAP programme
- The programme started in April 2010 with a first intake of 9 students at KRHTS (Kintampo Rural Health Training School)
- From 2011 the MAP intake will be up to 30 places / year every October
- Training is 18 months plus 6 months 'housemanship'
- The qualification is 'Degree in Clinical Psychiatry'
- MAP will treat a limited range of conditions otherwise the service will be overrun. MAP will mainly deal with schizophrenia, mania, severe depression, alcoholism and epilepsy. In later years when the workforce is established other conditions will be added, including the treatment drug addiction and children.
- Practicing MAP will be supervised by Medical Officers.
- MAP will be able to diagnose and prescribe medication
- Until workforce numbers are sufficient MAP can undertake a combination of regular MA duties and specialist duties. The balance will be agreed in job descriptions.
- Support for practicing MAP will be provided from the UK (mainly HPFT) for many years after they start their work.
DOWNLOADS
MAP course structure - 18 month calendar
Supplementary notes for course structure calendar
Preceptor manual (includes monitoring forms)
Notes for MAP educators and students
MAP programme outline - semester by semester
