High Court halts registration exam for 792 newly trained doctors

The High Court in Accra has granted an interim injunction preventing the Medical and Dental Council (MDC) from requiring 792 newly trained medical doctors to sit for the Stage 1 Common Registration Examination (CRE). This judicial intervention, issued by Human Rights Court 2, temporarily halts the requirement which was a prerequisite for the doctors to obtain their provisional registration. The order also extends to the Attorney-General and the Ministry of Health, effectively suspending the examination process pending the final determination of the legal challenge.

The lawsuit was initiated by the Federation of Ghana Medical Students’ Associations (FGMSA) on behalf of the newly qualified professionals. The association sought the court's protection to ensure that professional decisions affecting medical students and practitioners adhere to established legal frameworks and fair administrative processes. By securing the injunction, the FGMSA has successfully paused the examination that was originally scheduled to take place on October 22, 2026.

This court order prevents the MDC, the primary regulator of medical practice in Ghana, from enforcing the CRE requirement for this specific cohort until the substantive issues of the case are heard. The FGMSA has urged all affected parties, including the Ministry of Health and the Attorney-General’s Department, to respect the court’s ruling. The association emphasized that while they value professional standards, the pathway to registration must be conducted through transparent and lawful procedures that do not unfairly disadvantage students at the start of their careers.

As the case proceeds, the 792 doctors remain in a state of transition regarding their professional licensing. The FGMSA has committed to providing further updates through its official communication channels as the legal process unfolds. The outcome of this case is expected to clarify the regulatory powers of the Medical and Dental Council in determining the entry requirements for medical practitioners in Ghana, potentially setting a significant precedent for future medical education and certification standards in the country.