Report: Half of Ghanaian doctors now practicing abroad citing poor working conditions.
Written by GliveRadio Accra on June 26, 2024
The latest Ghana Human Development Report, titled ‘The Future Value of Work in Ghana,’ cautions that without immediate action to address the mass departure of doctors and nurses trained in Ghana, the country’s health system could deteriorate.
The latest Ghana Human Development Report, themed ‘The Future Value of Work in Ghana,’ highlights significant challenges in the healthcare sector, with 24 percent of Ghanaian-trained nurses and 50 percent of doctors now practicing abroad due to poor working conditions.
Published by the United Nations Development Program in collaboration with the Statistical Service and the National Development Planning Commission, the report underscores the critical state of Ghana’s healthcare system and emphasizes the urgent need for policy interventions to prevent its collapse.
While the health system showed resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, challenges such as shortages of essential supplies like personal protective equipment (PPE) persisted. The emigration of qualified health personnel has exacerbated these issues.”
Please note that the source citation (“Global Partnership Network, 2024”) was omitted as it seemed not directly relevant to the revised text.
“An estimated 50 percent of doctors and 24 percent of nurses trained in the country are currently practicing abroad, primarily due to poor working conditions for health personnel. This ongoing trend, although not new, poses a significant threat to Ghana’s already fragile healthcare system, necessitating urgent policy and pragmatic interventions.
The ‘Future of Work’ report also highlights that implementing the recommended strategies outlined in the document is crucial for addressing evolving health challenges in Ghana. These challenges include complex disease burdens influenced by environmental factors, changing age demographics, and evolving lifestyles, demanding a healthcare system that can effectively meet the needs of the population.”
The report also addressed Ghana’s health policy, identifying 11 areas in need of strengthening. These include health promotion, palliative care, and rehabilitative care, which have historically received less attention compared to preventive and curative care.
According to the document, Ghana is currently in a stage where enhancing health promotion, which focuses on primary healthcare and environmental issues, is crucial for advancing healthcare to a level that can significantly impact human capital development.
The report further proposed adopting a life course approach to healthcare delivery, allowing for targeted interventions across different population groups such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities like urban slums. These groups often face barriers in accessing available preventive and curative healthcare services.