Doctors who leave the country must pay for services rendered - Council

Accra, April 18, GNA - The Council of College of Health Sciences of the university of Ghana Medical School has resolved that doctors, who leave the country after completion of their courses, must pay the full cost of services rendered in preparing transcripts for them.

The fee must reflect the value of work done for them a release signed by Dr A. A. Owusu, Chairman and Reverend Professor A. S. Ayettey, Acting Provost of the College, said.

It was in reaction to protest by a group of doctors, who have protested against the payment of the fee for the preparation of transcripts. The statement said, "Ghana is not cheap, the University is not cheap and those who spend their precious time to help to get these documents are not cheap."

It said of the 1,500 doctors trained by the school only 400 are working in the country. The release said those who leave without serving Ghana over a period that would help government to recover the cost of their training should pay fully the amount spent on them.

It explained that the decision to review the transcript fees upwards is aimed at making it realistic to reflect the cost involved and to generate funds for the school.

The Council said it respects the civic rights of those protesting but pointed out that the protesters cannot determine for the authority the level of fees to charge for services rendered.