Arbitrary/ Unilateral Decisions At The Metropolitan/Municipal/ District Health Directorate Levels: Its Consequences On Health Service Delivery And Health Outcomes: The Perspectives Of A Medical Practitioner

It is with a saddened heart that I write to convey the dissatisfaction of almost all health care cadres at the lower facility levels especially at the Health Centre and CHPS Levels as a result of selfish and personal interests on the part of Metropolitan/ Municipal/ District Health Directors and their Allies.

Ghana as a country in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) as set up by the United Nations (UN), depends on Donor Agencies and other Developed Countries in order to achieve the goals.

In furtherance, the Ministry of Health and for that matter Ghana Health Service (GHS), Christian Health Association of Ghana (GHAG), Quasi and Private Security Health Institutions have braced themselves up in order to achieve the health related goals set by UN.

However, typical of we Africans, we see this opportunity as a way of enriching the pockets of the few at the Health Directorate Levels as comparatively compared to the positive health outcomes of our teeming clients.

Africa will continue to remain under performing in all health indices in the world if some categories of health leaders who lack innovation, creativity and exemplary leadership skills are allowed to remain managers and administrators in the health care delivery machinery in Ghana and Africa as a whole.

Africa and Ghana especially can no longer give excuses to the world in relation to positive health outcomes in all health indicators as we can boast of all the requisite support from NGOs/ Donor Agencies in our region.

The Physician Assistant under whose jurisdiction that all these Health related SDGs could be accomplished are hitherto relegated to the background in the planning and decision making processes.

The Physician Assistant who is the Sub - District Head is only called upon when auditors are coming because they are made to account for monies they don't even know about.

Executive Officers, District Accountants, District Health Information Officers and Metropolitan/ Municipal/ District Health Directors have become arbitrary decision makers even when their knowledge of a particular field is challenged or limited.

To the NGOs, without mention of any particular group or organization, get to the implementors of your policies at the grassroot, know their plights and address them directly.

How can somebody who doesn't know the requisite health needs of a facility be the sole procurement officer for drugs of health facilities without the inputs of clinicians?.

It is indeed only in Ghana that those things can happen.

Executive Officers have become sole procurement officers with the backing of their respective directors because of their selfish and gluttonous interest.

Different receipt booklets could be seen at the directorate levels and they are always filling in the blanks to the detriment of health service delivery.

Physician Assistants in this country are about 1,200 with a teeming Ghanaian population of about 26,000000( Ghana Statistical Survey, 2010) making the Physician Assistant: Patient Ratio of 1: 21,666

How can this caliber of Health care professionals be relegated to the background for so long a time?

The MoH/GHS and its allied agencies had neglected us for so long a time in their administrative and managerial structures to the extent that nobody knows us.

We are put under the Council of MDC and for that Medical Officers without any benefits.

When Doctors fight for their interests, they forget about we the PAs. Everyone who sits in the Consulting Room and Consults is regarded as a doctor but we are not paid the same and recognized as colleagues.

Physician Assistants who hold the health system at the periphery can not be neglected or by- passed if we really want to achieve our set goals as a Health Sector.

Enough is enough. Don't use the facilities to enrich yourselves at the directorate levels.

We have awakened from deep sleep. No intimidation can hold us forever.

To our benevolent NGOs/Partners , please change your modus of operations and we can assure you of improved health indicators.

Current morale is low among the health staffs.
We shall overcome
Stay resolute and blessed always.
Your Comrade Peter Eyram Kuenyefu writes.
Acting General Vice Secretary, Ghana Physician Assistants Association

External Auditor: National Health Insurance Scheme, Ghana

Volta Regional Resource Person: Malaria Case Management & Adolescent Health.

Sub - District Head, Nkonya- Ahenkro, Biakoye District, Volta Region.

Community Health Officer Certified: Ghana Health Service, Volta Region

Facility Head: Comfort Ofedie Memorial Clinic, Nkonya - Ahenkro, Ghana Health Service, Volta Region

BSc. Community Medicine & Health ( Honors Degree)

Advanced Diploma; ( Community Health and Medicine)

Registered Nurse ( Diploma)
Former Student Keta Senior High Secondary School ( Science Department)

Contact Numbers: 0249883933/ 0206384991/ 0274883933

Emails: [email protected]/ gpaanational@ yahoo.com .