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30.09.2009 Commentary

Commentary on the refusal of doctors to accept postings to the three regions of the north

By GBC NEWS
Commentary on the refusal of doctors to accept postings to the three regions of the north
30.09.2009 LISTEN

According to world Health Organisation, the global standard doctor-patient ratio is one doctor to five thousand patients. Ghana falls short of this number and statistics indicate that the one doctor is responsible for thirteen thousand patients in the country.

This falls below the global standard but it is even more appalling to note that the regional distribution of doctors in the country present s a gloomier picture of the situation in the Upper West, Upper East and the Northern Region. In the Upper East region, the radio is one doctor to twenty-nine thousand patients.

The ratio in the Upper West Region is one doctor to forty-four thousand patients while that of the Northern Region is one doctor to ninety-three thousand patients.

According to recent media reports, there are only six doctors in the nine districts of the upper West region, while there is only one medical doctor at the Wa regional Hospital instead of the twelve needed to run the hospital.

The only doctor at the Lawra District Hospitals has left for further studies while the Wa West, Sisala West and Wa East District Hospitals have no medical doctors.

Over the last three years, on medical doctor has accepted posting to the Upper east Region while the few health personnel in the region want to be aching Hospital, which is patronized by some parts of the Volta and Brong - Ahafo regions lacks personnel and facilities following years of neglect.

The health situation in northern Ghana is unacceptable and authorities in the health sector have to act swiftly to ensure that quality health care does no remain a luxury for only a privileged few. Medical doctors and other health personnel never miss the opportunity to remind Ghanaians. Even though the general salary level of workers in this country is low, governments have over the years squeezed water out of stone to ensure that Ghanaian medical doctors are among the best paid on the continent. It is therefore only natural that tax payers demand quality health care in return for their money.

Many Cuban doctors and other foreign health care volunteers accept posting to very remote health posts in the country.

If Ghanaian doctors trained with the nation's scarce resources refuse postings to regional capitals such as Tamale, Bolgatanga and Wa, then one is left with no choice but think that they are not worth what they are paid.

The Ghana Health Service, the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Medical and Dental Council whose duty it is to ensure quality health care delivery for all Ghanaians must work to make health care accessible to all Ghanaians irrespective of where one lives.

If doctors can refuse postings to some remote areas of the country and then are reposted to places of their choice, then those in authority are only giving their blessing to this unpatriotic act.

The Medical and Dental Council should enact laws to punish doctors who refuse postings. This will not only ensure compliance but it will also inject some level of sanity into the health sector.

The people of northern Ghana can benefit fully health care intervention such as the National Health Insurance Scheme and the free material car for pregnant women if there are health personnel to provide such services. The refusal of doctors to go to this part of the country is also a basis for other workers t refuse posting to the northern part of the country because it will not be easy convincing someone to accept posting to where they will not have access to healthcare.

Health care is one of the major indicators of the standard of living hence the need to take it seriously.

The three in the northern part of the country regions with personnel and the health sector must not aggravate the woes.

It is a fact that the country lacks adequate health personnel but the current situation, which medical doctors at the Ridge Hospital in Accra outnumber all medical doctors in the three regions of the north put together is unacceptable appalling.

The earlier something is done about it, the better it will be for the people of the regions and Ghana as a whole.

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