Coronavirus: Kennedy Agyapong advises government about health sector

The Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong has urged the government to accept more students into medical school as the country does not have enough doctors.

Mr. Agyapong stated that the deadly coronavirus pandemic has exposed the weakness in Ghana’s health sector, and one of them is the insufficient number of practicing health professionals.

“The virus has exposed our economy and brought us to the realization that we need more doctors. So the first thing I will plead with the president when it gets to the health sector is that they should increase or double the intake of medical doctors in the country,” he said.

Speaking as a guest on Net 2 TV's morning show yesterday, Mr. Agyapong said Ghana can train more medical doctors for export to other countries to generate income, as it is done in Cuba.

“You realize that when you increase the numbers, you can sell or negotiate with other countries and give them doctors as it is done in Cuba. What is the population of Cuba for them to be able to bring doctors to Ghana? Why can’t we do that?” he quizzed.

He also added that health professionals who were not employed several years after training in the various medical schools have now become relevant because of the pandemic.

“I have always loved and respected medicine … You would realize that even the nurses who have been home for a long time without work to do have become useful now,” he concluded.