The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has given newly posted medical doctors an additional one week to report to their assigned health facilities or face validation of their postings.
Speaking to journalists in Accra on Tuesday, December 2, the Minister expressed concern over the low turnout of the newly posted doctors, describing the initial reporting figures as “not encouraging.”
He revealed that seven out of every ten newly assigned doctors had failed to report to their duty posts nationwide.
The situation is particularly dire in the Upper West and Upper East regions, where no single doctor had reported as of Friday, November 28.
In the Upper West Region, 25 out of the 32 doctors posted to the region are yet to show up, a situation Mr Akandoh warned could seriously affect healthcare delivery for close to one million residents.
“We are giving 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,” the Minister stated, adding that under no circumstance would the postings be changed.
He announced that the Ministry is collaborating with regional ministers, Members of Parliament, District Chief Executives, and traditional authorities to make the deprived districts more attractive and accommodating for the doctors.
The Minister also disclosed that the government is exploring various incentives to encourage the medical officers to accept their postings.
Mr Akandoh described the doctors as “wonderful medical doctors” and expressed optimism that they would heed the national call to serve where their services are needed most.
He highlighted the severe imbalance in the distribution of doctors across the country, noting that nearly half of Ghana’s medical doctors are concentrated in the Greater Accra Region alone.
“Is it not scary?” he asked rhetorically, emphasising government’s resolve to redirect new doctors to underserved areas.
Regional health directors have already begun contacting the doctors through phone calls, with electronic messages to follow.
Stakeholder engagements are also underway to secure accommodation and other logistical support to facilitate the doctors’ smooth transition to their new stations.