Gov't asked to impose fees on countries luring Ghanaian medical personnel

Tema, Nov 18, GNA - Professor Vladimir Antwi-Danso, Dean of Students at the University of Ghana Legon, on Wednesday suggested the need for the Government to impose a fee on countries that wish to recruit health professionals to work for them.

He explained that since Government could not stop the exodus of the health personnel, there was the need to find a favourable response to the problem.

Prof. Antwi-Danso, who was the chairman at the commissioning of a nursing training school in Tema, said a percentage of the fee could be used for the training of more medical doctors and nurses. Nineteen (19) students swore the matriculation oath as part of the commissioning of the one billion-cedi school, built by the Narh-Bita Hospital, a maiden private health facility in the Municipality, to offer a three-year diploma course.

Prof. Antwi-Danso however, condemned the mass exodus of the professionals and tasked them to stay at home as a sign of patriotism. In a speech read on his behalf, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Health, said the exodus of the professionals was very alarming and grievous. He said the number of nurses in the country was not commensurate with the patients that visited the health facilities daily.

Dr Afriyie entreated the pioneering students to make judicious use of the facilities available at the school and graduate to serve the nation. In a speech read on his behalf, the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Evans Ashong Narh said the Hospital had been selected as a facility for the Mutual Health Insurance Scheme.

The Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr Edward A. Narh appealed to the Ministry of Health for a grant to establish a Midwifery school and the training of anaesthetists.

The Rotary Club of Tema donated medical books to the hospital.