Doctors asked to be people-centred

By Eric Kwame AMESIMEKU

Doctors have been advised to, as a matter of necessity, show greater interest in the lifestyle of the people whose health needs they are tasked to oversee. This approach, according to the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) is the only way to ensure that people live healthy lives and the burden of diseases reduced to the barest minimum. Significantly, this theme run through the speeches delivered at a ceremony to launch the GMA’s newsmagazine- GMA Focus, at their secretariat at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital. The launch which was attended by executive members of the GMA, sponsors and partners of the association was chaired by Professor Agyeman Badu- Akosa, a renowned pathologist who is also famed for his advocacy for healthy lifestyles. General Secretary of GMA and the Editor-in-chief of the magazine, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey intimated that the magazine has opened a new chapter not only for the medical practitioner but the Ghanaian public as a whole as it presents an avenue for doctors and other medical practitioners to share their experiences to the benefit of the nation.

He insisted that the life of a medical doctor transcends simple healthcare issues into the social and political life of the patient and thus the focus of the GMA newsmagazine would also be on the medico-socio-political life of the nation. Dr. Sodzi-Tettey was grateful to the sponsors and partners of the association- Trust Bank, Onetouch, SIC, and DATABANK- for their support for the association in difficult moments. Minister for Health, Major Courage Quashigah in his address outlined six core values that must be advanced- people centeredness, professionalism, teamwork, discipline, innovation and integrity. Elaborating on these values, the minister said since the well-being of the patient is the doctor’s concern, the doctor must be interested in activities that are people –centred which would ensure that the general welfare of the patient is catered for. He thus entreated them to get involved in the activities of the patient outside the consulting room. Again, doctors must always be guided by their professional ethics and not to indulge in activities that will bring the name of the noble profession into question. He also advised doctors not to let their integrity be compromised since their lives were examples for others.

The minister was happy that the GMA has been able to come out with its own newsmagazine which would afford the members the opportunity to put into print their professional ideas. The first copy of the GMA Focus was bought for GH¢ 500 by a representative from the State Insurance Company.