Vice President appeals to Doctors

Kumasi, Nov. 7, GNA - Vice President Aliu Mahama has appealed to doctors and other health professionals to remain true to their calling as government and their leadership worked to find solutions to their problems.

He asked them to continue to approach their duties with professional zeal and love to sustain the country's health system. Alhaji Mahama was opening the 45th Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) in Kumasi on Friday. The theme for this year's meeting is: "Changing Lifestyle and Diseases: Multi-sectoral Approach."

Alhaji Mahama re-echoed the determination of the government to the development of a realistic income policy for health professionals, especially in the light of the many vacant positions in the health sector that cannot be filled because of the high exodus of health professionals.

He said the government had already initiated actions to help improve their conditions of service.

One of these is the establishment of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, which would be inaugurated in December this year to allow the medical professionals to undertake post-graduate medical education locally to upgrade themselves.

In addition, a process of streamlining recruitment and promotions within the health sector and innovative schemes to provide means of transport and housing units for health personnel are underway. He announced that one million dollars of the seed money to set up a Revolving Fund to provide vehicles for health professionals would be released this year.

The Vice-President said another one million dollars would be released next year, while the country's development partners have also earmarked three million dollars for the vehicle Revolving Fund to bring the total to five million dollars.

Alhaji Mahama said the tendering process had been completed and that 415 cars had been ordered for health professionals. He told the doctors that the government has tasked the Ministries of Health, Finance and Economic Planning and Employment and Manpower Development to develop modalities for a housing loan scheme for health workers.

Dr Jacob Plange-Rhule, President of the GMA, said the doctors welcomed the passing of the law establishing the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

"The GMA believes that whatever the arguments are against aspects of the law passed, it is an important start because any properly managed pre-payment scheme is better that the cash and carry system", he said. Dr Plange-Rhule appealed to President John Agyekum Kufuor to facilitate the conclusion of negotiations for better conditions of service for doctors.

He said the negotiations had dragged on for far too long and it was imperative that they brought it to a close.