Gov't ending nursing bonding won't lead to brain drain - MoH

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ministry of Health (MoH) has debunked claims by a section of the public that, the decision by government to stop the bonding of trained nurses will lead to brain drain in the health sector.

Government of Ghana in a statement issued last week said it will no longer bond nurses trained in public health training facilities from 2017.

By the directive, new-entrant nursing trainees in government funded Health Training Institutions for the 2017/2018 academic year, will no longer be required to serve a bond after completion.

According to Tony Goodman, the old way of bonding nurses is outdated hence the reason to allow trained nurses (qualified) to apply for jobs just like other government workers.

Speaking in an interview with Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Tony Goodman said the new directive is to allow flexibility.

The move he insisted will not deprive nurses of jobs since government has invested massively in the health sector with almost completed health facilities nationwide.

He also debunked assertions that the move follows perceived delays of recruiting bonded nurses in the country.

Government he noted, has so far posted over 4, 799 nurses, psychiatry nurses, enrolled nurses, Community Nurses and Midwives who graduated in 2014 and 2015 to various health facilities in Ghana, as part of moves of the Strategic Development Goals and improving primary health care, in the country.

Tony Goodman added further that the process of employing the nurses under this directive will be based on merits and not whom you know syndrome.