Kampala, Uganda – July 28, 2025 –
Uganda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, has officially opened the 27th Annual Conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA2025), urging medical councils across the continent to balance patient-centered care with the well-being of healthcare workers.
In her keynote address, delivered to a gathering of leading healthcare professionals and regulators from across Africa, Dr. Aceng emphasized that while patients must remain a central focus of healthcare systems, the welfare of medical practitioners is equally vital to delivering safe, quality care.
“We cannot talk about patient safety and effective healthcare delivery without recognizing the welfare of the very people who deliver that care,” Dr. Aceng said. “Medical councils must establish standards that promote supportive work environments and reduce the stigma around mental health issues in the medical field.”
The conference, hosted in Kampala, serves as a vital platform for collaboration among Africa’s medical regulatory bodies. This year’s theme centers on healthcare providers and their evolving role in strengthening healthcare systems across the continent.
Prof. Joel Okullo, Chairperson of the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council, noted that the 2025 conference would prioritize issues affecting the professional and personal well-being of healthcare workers.
“This year, we are focusing not only on the patients but also on those who provide the care. The challenges faced by healthcare workers, including burnout, mental health struggles, and inadequate support systems, deserve serious attention,” Prof. Okullo said.
Key Takeaways from Dr. Aceng’s Address:
- Patient-Centric Approach: Patients remain a central priority in healthcare policy and practice.
- Healthcare Worker Welfare: Ensuring the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of healthcare professionals is essential for effective healthcare systems.
- Reducing Stigma: Medical councils must take the lead in creating policies that normalize mental health support for healthcare workers.
While AMCOA is primarily focused on African medical councils, the acronym is also associated with events in other regions. For instance, the Amco Summit 2025 in Latin America recently gathered over 11,000 educators and policymakers to discuss innovation in education. However, in the African context, AMCOA continues to serve as a cornerstone in shaping policies for medical regulation and workforce support.
The AMCOA2025 conference is expected to generate actionable strategies for member countries, aiming to improve working conditions for doctors, reduce attrition in the health sector, and ultimately enhance patient outcomes across Africa.
