Engaging Cuban doctors not solution to health sector crisis - Former GMA Prez

Former President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) Dr Emmanuel Adom Winful says government’s decision to engage the services of Cuban and retired doctors to fill the gap created by the striking doctors is not a solution to crisis in the health sector.

He said engaging these Cuban doctors will rather worsen the situation and deteriorate any progress made in resolving the current stalemate.

In his view, engaging the Cuban and retired doctors is needless because government can solve the problem.

“The GMA problem can be resolved, there is no need to bring in Cuban doctors or recall retired doctors from their rest, they can solve this problem.”

He said government should rather channel the resources to used in engaging the Cuban and retired doctors into resolving the impasse with the striking doctors.

Dr Winful also cast doubt on the ability of the Cuban doctors to work effectively as compared to their Ghanaian counterparts.

“The cost to this country through the engagement of retired and Cuban doctors is much higher than sorting out the doctors in this country.

“We know their deficiencies, they don’t speak English and sometimes their skills and ability to work leaves much to be desired. I’ve worked with them and I know them so it is not going to solve the problem. It is an interim measure but it will not solve the problem", he continued.

He advised the Health Minister to be cautious with the way he deals with the issues because “the collapse of the health sector will be put on his head, it is on his watch that all this mess is happening”.

He added that the posture of government in using force to compel the doctors to resume work will also not yield any result.

Meanwhile public health facilities that were forced to turn away patients because of the strike are to resume full operations today.

A crucial meeting between the National Labour Commission today will determine if the doctors meet government’s 48 hour ultimatum to return to work. That ultimatum expires tomorrow.