House officers reminded about deadline for housemanship

Accra, May 8, GNA - The Medical and Dental Council on Tuesday reminded junior house officers dismissed by the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital that the law requires them to begin their housemanship within two months after the release of the results of their final examination.

"Any doctor who does not start the housemanship training within the mandatory period would be required to take the registration examination before he/she is provisionally registered," the Council said in a statement signed by the Registrar, Dr E.K. Atikpui.

The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital dismissed 91 housemen recently after they went on strike over a dispute with the hospital authorities on acceptance of their appointment letters.

Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, Chief Executive Officer of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, said the Hospital Administration took the decision to cancel an earlier agreement with the newly recruited House Officers based on their refusal to acknowledge acceptance of their appointments before the expiry date.

The dismissed junior house officers were part of a group inducted last month and recruited by the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. With their dismissal, the new doctors would be required to look for hospitals accredited by the Ghana Medical and Dental Council for their two-year housemanship training.

The Ghana Medical and Dental Council said it was concerned about reports of dismissals and advised the affected house officers to strictly adhere to the decisions and regulations of the Council. The affected house officers have apologised but the hospital authorities say they have employed 70 senior house officers whose applications were pending before the strike action by junior house officers.

"In order to get the required number of house officers for the year, the Hospital will advertise the position of junior house officers for those interested in the position to reapply," the hospital said.

It said applicants who will not be successful were free to apply for placement at other accredited hospitals. According to the law, all newly qualified doctors are to be inducted by the Medical and Dental Council and provisionally registered before they commence their housemanship training.

"The period of housemanship training starts after the induction and provisional registration with the council. Housemanship training done before induction and provisional registration would be considered null and void." 08 May 07