Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister of Health, has given newly posted medical doctors an extra week to report to their duty stations after what he described as a worrying nationwide failure to take up postings.
He said early reporting figures were “not encouraging,” revealing that about seven out of every ten newly posted doctors had failed to report. The situation is most difficult in the Upper West and Upper East regions, which have recorded no arrivals as of Friday, November 29.
Speaking to journalists in Accra on Tuesday, December 2, the Minister disclosed that in the Upper West Region alone, 25 of the 32 doctors posted had not reported, a situation he warned could seriously affect healthcare delivery for nearly one million residents.
“We will give 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,” he said, adding that postings would not be changed under any circumstances.
Mr Akandoh noted that the Ministry was working with local authorities to create a more welcoming environment for the doctors in the affected areas.
“We are engaging stakeholders in their respective districts — regional ministers, Members of Parliament, DCEs, and chiefs — to facilitate their stay so they can give their best,” he said, adding that possible incentives were also being considered to encourage compliance.
The Minister expressed confidence that the doctors would report, describing them as “wonderful medical doctors” who would answer the call of duty.
He also drew attention to the uneven distribution of doctors nationwide, noting that nearly half of Ghana’s doctors are concentrated in the Greater Accra region.
“Is it not scary?” he asked. “So at this point, the government has made a decision: let’s post these medical officers to where their services are needed most.”
Mr Akandoh added that regional health directors had begun contacting the affected doctors directly and would follow up with electronic. Further engagements were underway to secure accommodation and other forms of support to ease their transition into their new postings.
