Pharmacists Join Exodus For Greener Pastures.

Moses Dani Baah, Deputy Minister of Health, on Monday said the mass exodus of health professionals was seriously hindering quality health care delivery.

The brain drain facing the sector was assuming such an alarming proportion that implementing strategies and policies to sustain the progress made was becoming increasingly difficult, Baah said at the opening of a six-day Medicare Exhibition at the Ghana International Trade Fair in Accra.

The fair, which is the first ever, has 55 participants from Ghana, Nigeria, Germany, the United Kingdom and Russia.

It aims at creating a forum for all stakeholders in the health sector, including the pharmaceutical, herbal and paramedical sectors, to discuss issues and exchange ideas to improve the delivering of quality health care to the people.

Some of the items exhibited include medical equipment, traditional and orthodox medicines and cosmetics.

Baah attributed the brain drain to the poor working conditions and the uncertain future in which some of the health professional found themselves. He said records at the pharmaceutical sector showed that 50 pharmacists left the country between 1997 and 2000.

"Between January and March this year, 24 pharmacists have departed and the situation is getting frightening, considering its effect on health care delivery."

He, therefore, appealed to all healthcare professionals to sacrifice and stay to assist in the development of the nation whilst the government found ways of introducing incentive packages to motivate them.