The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has griven newly posted doctors an extra week to report to their duty stations after many doctors refuse to take up posting in some areas.
According to Mr Akandoh, the initial reporting figures were “not encouraging,” with seven out of every ten newly assigned doctors failing to report.
The situation is very severe in the Upper West and Upper East regions, where no newly posted doctor reported as of Friday, November 28.
Addressing journalists in Accra on Tuesday, December 2, the Minister disclosed that in the Upper West Region alone, 25 out of 32 posted doctors had not reported, a situation he was concerned could jeopardise healthcare delivery for close to one million residents in the Region.
“We will give them an additional week to appeal to them to report to their various facilities where they have been posted. After that, we will do what we call validation,” he said.
The Minister made it clear that under no circumstance will the postings be changed.
Mr Akandoh noted that the Ministry is engaging local authorities to ensure that these districts become more accommodating for the doctors.
“We are engaging stakeholders in their respective districts—regional ministers, Members of Parliament, DCEs, chiefs—to facilitate their stay so they can give their best,” he said.
He added that the government was also considering incentives to these doctors to make them comply.
Despite the low turnout, the Minister expressed confidence that the doctors would eventually report, describing them as “wonderful medical doctors” who would respond to the call.
He also highlighted the uneven distribution of doctors across the country, pointing out that nearly half of Ghana’s medical workforce is concentrated in the Greater Accra Region.
“Is it not scary?” he asked. “So at this point, the government has made a decision: let’s post these medical officers to where their services are needed most.”
Mr Akandoh said regional health directors had already begun contacting the doctors through phone calls and would follow up with electronic messages.
He also revealed that efforts were being made to involve stakeholders in order to acquire accommodations and other measures that would facilitate the transition for the newly posted doctors.