We do not have enough doctors and healthcare experts, particularly in new areas – Prez

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has noted that Ghana currently does not have the right number of doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals with the right mix of skills and expertise in the regions.

This is especially so in the newly-created regions and districts, Mr Akufo-Addo said.

Speaking at the 60th celebration of the University of Ghana Medical School in Accra on Friday March 25, Mr Akufo-Addo said “We currently do not have the right number of doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals with the right mix of skills and expertise in our regions, districts and deprived communities especially for the new-created regions and districts.

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“The news of doctors refusing postings to these areas is particularly distressing. I encourage all medical practitioners to follow the warning example of your great fore bearers who readily accepted postings in their early years at a time when the national infrastructure was even more harrowing than it is today.

“They did so because they believe the oath they took imposed a duty on them to offer their services especially to the most needy. It was their work that helped build the nationwide health system for which we are all benefiting.”

He further indicated that as part of efforts to meet the healthcare needs of Ghanaians his administration has initiated a number of policies in the health sector.

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Good health is fundamental, the president said adding that t is the reason access to quality healthcare is a right that is enshrined in the constitution.

“This constitutional right can best materialized if health institutions like the University of Ghana Medical School , nursing training schools, and other allied health training institutions produce the required numbers of competent personnel who enjoy the confidence of the population.

“it is on this basis I believe that the theme for this celebration ‘ Building 60 years of quality medical education, the role of technology’ is so apt in the times in which we find ourselves.

“Many of us here are aware of the commitments made by the government since January 2017 when I took office in the areas of education, health and technology.

“Over the last five years we have pursued policies in these sectors of national life to improve this quality and help place our nation on the path of sustained development progress and prosperity.”

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“This commitment to improving our healthcare system is evident in the Agenda 111 initiative. This project will provide 111 standard 100-bed district hospitals with accommodation for doctors and nurses in districts without district hospitals , six new regional hospitals for each of the six new regions, rehabilitate the Efia Nkwanta hospital in the Western Region , one new regional hospital for the Western Region and three psychiatry hospitals for each of the three zones of the country ie. the North, Middle and the Coastal. The entire package at an estimated cost of US$1.765billion,” he said.

He added ” Such a development will help make Ghana a center of medical excellence and a preferred destination for medical tourism in West Africa. A great deal of the preparatory work for the execution of this ambitious project has been completed. It is my determination that the entire project will be completed before I leave office on 7th January 2025.”

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President  Akufo-Addo on Tuesday August 17 201 commissioned the Agenda 111 project which will ensure the construction of 111 hospitals across the country.

He said “I am glad that the biggest ever investment  in the nation’s healthcare  is being made .We have met this morning  because of the ravages of Covid 19  which has affected every country  on the planet . For us in Ghana not only has the pandemic disrupted our daily lives, but it has also  exposed the deficiencies  with our healthcare system  because of the  years of under  investment and neglect