Health Minister lists strategies to curb mass relocation of Ghanaian health professionals

Minister of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, has unveiled measures aimed at stemming the tide of Ghanaian medical professionals migrating abroad in search of better opportunities.

The urgent call for government intervention follows concerns raised by Ghanaian medical professionals about the situation, particularly among nurses, which is beginning to strain the country’s healthcare system.

In 2023 alone, nearly 4,000 nurses reportedly left Ghana for Europe and America, sparking fears of an imminent shortage if the trend continues unchecked.

Addressing the issue at the 33rd Annual General Congress of the Ghana Dental Association (GDA) in Kumasi, Dr. Okoe Boye outlined proposed measures:

"One of the initiatives the ministry will promote and sponsor involves partnerships and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between training centers and district facilities, health centers, and possibly CHPS compounds," he stated.

Dr. Okoe Boye emphasized the importance of practical training placements, suggesting, "We can enhance professional development by incorporating practical experiences into training programs. For example, a dentist undergoing training at Komfo Anokye could spend a month in a district facility. Establishing MoUs between Ghana Health Service facilities and teaching hospitals or regional centers where dentists prefer to work can help achieve this."

He continued, "Another key strategy is collaboration with the GDA, Ghana Education Service, and teaching hospitals to increase annual training capacities."

Meanwhile, alongside nurses, dentists are prominently among the medical professionals seeking opportunities abroad, further intensifying concerns about workforce sustainability in Ghana's healthcare sector.

EB/OGB