Ghanaian medical officers trained outside Ghana have been assured that they will get the chance to be absorbed into the Ghana Health Service by the Ministry of Health in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s second term.
According to the New Patriotic Party’s 2020 manifesto, dubbed “Protecting Our Progress, Transforming Ghana For All”, the Akufo-Addo led NPP government will engage the Ghana Medical and Dental Association to streamline the admission of foreign trained doctors in its second term.
Although the doctor to patient ratio in Ghana is nothing worth writing home about, according to the World Health Organisation’s standards, these foreign trained doctors still do not automatically get recruited by the Ministry of Health after their training.
According to the Medical and Dental Council of Ghana, a foreign trained doctor must satisfy some requirements, including demonstrating that he or she has the ordinary skills, knowledge and abilities of a practitioner by passing, the Council’s examination.
Even though passing the examination grants one the permission to practice in Ghana, it does not guarantee such persons job offers.
The Medical and Dental Council, Ghana, has, according to Section 20 (3) of NRCD 91 (1972), “to direct any person to undergo such examinations as it deems necessary prior to registration under this decree”.
Most of the trained officers testify that absorption into the system through the Medical and Dental Council is very frustrating.
NHIS
The NPP has further assured that its second term will focus on health promotion and prevention as part of primary health care through National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
One major focus on health in the manifesto is the enhancement of tele-medicine to improve health care delivery.
Tele-medicine service requires an online account or a toll-free phone number where patients request a visit, submitting basic information on their health condition to a physician. Through this, medical appointments are scheduled for further diagnosis.
Sanitary pads
Again, the manifesto talks about the elimination of import duties on sanitary products.
After another victory for NPP, come December 7, the Akufo-Addo led government has promised to make the importation of sanitary pads duty-free, thereby making the item affordable and accessible.
Reports indicate that most girls, especially those in rural areas of the country, are unable to purchase pads, as a result of cost, which in turn takes an effect on their studies since most of them are compelled to skip school.
