The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has asked nurses and other medical personnel to avoid unprofessional and discourteous behavior toward patients.
Speaking during a cholera awareness initiative at the Winneba Government Hospital, he expressed concern that such attitudes discourage individuals—especially the elderly—from seeking medical care, even when in urgent need.
While acknowledging the dedication and competence of most healthcare workers, the minister noted that a small fraction of them negatively impact the profession’s reputation through poor patient interactions, fostering apprehension and distrust in the healthcare system.
“We have fantastic and very professional health workers but there are a few bad nuts amongst them, especially the way some of you handle patients. Sometimes you will be surprised to hear that somebody may be sick, (especially the aged). If you ask him or her to go to the hospital, he will say the nurse will insult me or shout at me.
“Irrespective of the level of provocation, we expect you to be very professional, its an appeal to the few bad nuts that are amongst you. Some of these things I will take it seriously. It doesn’t mean that we are going to come after somebody but it’s important for us to protect our patients and also make them feel comfortable,” he said.
He encouraged all medical staff to maintain professionalism at all times, regardless of the circumstances, emphasizing that patients should always be treated with dignity and care.
The minister further pointed out that the way patients are handled has contributed to declining attendance at some public health institutions, as many now opt for private hospitals instead.
To address the problem, the minister announced plans to enforce stricter disciplinary measures against misconduct while also committing to enhancing working conditions to ease frustrations among healthcare professionals.
Ghana Medical Association (GMA)has raised alarming concerns about the growing issues of alcohol misuse, drug abuse, and instances of sexual misconduct among some of its members.
During the GMA’s annual general meeting, Dr. Frank Serebour, the association’s president, emphasised that such behaviour jeopardises patient care, as affected medical professionals continue to work without appropriate intervention.
Dr. Serebour also revealed that the association is currently facing multiple lawsuits related to accusations of medical and professional negligence, stressing the urgent need for corrective measures to address these serious concerns.
“We have some health personnel involved in alcoholism and drug abuse, which impacts their quality of life,” he said.
Dr. Serebour also pointed out the alarming rise in sexual harassment cases involving healthcare workers, with several complaints still being investigated by the Medical and Dental Council.
Additionally, he voiced concern over the increasing number of legal actions against healthcare institutions, stressing that the outcomes of these cases often tarnish the reputation of the medical profession.
He added that; “In some cases, we are left off the hook simply because the victims of our unprofessionalism choose to blame the witches and wizards instead of taking on the system.”
He also criticisedcertain unprofessional practices like chronic lateness, absenteeism, and insufficient work hours, questioning if professionalism is diminishing in the health sector.
“Is there an overwhelming focus on greed and selfishness? Some workers arrive at 9:00 a.m. and leave by noon, expecting to be paid for a full day,” he remarked.
Former German footballer Gerald Asamoah has won the admiration of Ghanaians after bringing a team of doctors and nurses from Germany to perform life-saving surgeries on Ghanaian children with hole-in-the-heart conditions.
On Saturday, November 2, 2024, over 40 medical professionals from the Gerald Asamoah Foundation arrived in Ghana as part of the foundation’s annual free open-heart surgery program.
Reports indicate that the selected beneficiaries are set to begin their procedures shortly.
Popular Ghanaian blogger Zionfelix captured the heartfelt moment, sharing a video on Instagram that showcased the warm welcome extended to the German medical team.
In 2023, Mr. Asamoah’s initiative enabled 50 children with hole-in-the-heart conditions to receive free surgeries, with the same foundation coordinating the arrival of skilled German doctors and nurses for the operations.
Founder of the Gerald Asamoah Foundation and Ex-German footballer, Gerald Asamoah has flown in over 40 heart specialists and nurses into the country ahead of his annual open heart surgeries program.
The annual event is an initiative to offer free surgeries to underprivileged… pic.twitter.com/j5IkJpWpRs
A Pro-NPP activist has alleged that doctors are now receiving free education to become specialists, with no tuition fees required under the Akufo-Addo’s administration.
He stated that prior to the current NPP administration, students had to pay fees, but this is no longer the case.
“Today, Doctors are receiving free education. You can walk from your studios to the college of physicians and surgeons. Every doctor receiving training to become a specialist in this country, the Akuffo-Addo NPP administration has made schooling free. They don’t face school fees. Hither to our administration, they were paying fees. They doctors who had car waver by motivation president Kufuor introduced, prof mills continued. Mr Mahama under his administration came to cancel them,” the Pro-NPP activist said.
Meanwhile, in 2017, President Nana Akufo-Addo introduced Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy in Ghana with the aim of provide providing free secondary education to all Ghanaian students who qualify for and are placed in public senior high schools.
It is believed by a section of Ghanaians that the policy removes financial burdens on parents by absorbing all approved fees, making education accessible to more students.
Thus, it implementation has led to a significantly increased enrollment in senior high schools over the years.
DID YOU KNOW THAT DOCTORS ARE OFFERED FREE EDUCATION UNDER NANA/DR. BAWUMIA GOVERNMENT⁉️
Under this Nana/Bawumia government, medical doctors are enjoying FREE SPECIALIST EDUCATION at Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Nine years ago, armed police officers surrounded the offices of the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) to prevent a group of Ghanaian junior doctors from protesting the non-payment of their salaries for 11 months.
The junior doctors asserted that they were merely at the CAGD to submit the necessary documents for salary processing.
DSP Freeman Kumashie, Greater Accra Regional Director of Operations of the Ghana Police Service, labeled the gathering as unlawful and indicated that the police were poised to charge the group’s leaders with unlawful assembly.
However, Dr. Nana Kissi Ataffuah, the group’s spokesperson, criticized the police’s actions, insisting that the gathering was not a protest.
“We are not demonstrating or acting violently. We are angry but not violent. We just want to present our documents to get paid. We are tired and hungry,” he told local radio station Peace FM.
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) declared its support for the junior doctors nationwide. GMA President Dr. Kwabena Adusei Poku questioned the government’s expectations of unpaid doctors and highlighted that the doctors had completed all necessary requirements, including biometric registration, yet remained unpaid.
Dr. Adusei Poku lamented that the government only acted after the doctors went on strike.
Then-Finance Minister Seth Terkper, addressing the issue on local media, promised that the doctors would receive their 11 months’ salary arrears within two weeks. He attributed the delay to the existing remuneration system but assured that steps were being taken to resolve the problem.
Mr Terkper explained that automating all public sector paper applications, such as those for leave, transfer, payment, and employment, was underway. He detailed that the current system required 30 months for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to enter the young doctors’ personal data into the government’s payroll system, due to the manual process involved.
“The process begins at the district level, moves to the regional level, and finally to the national level before it interfaces with the payroll, causing the delay,” Terkper explained.
The doctors, however, were unconvinced by the explanation and assurance, deeming the proposed two-week period too long.
This issue has resurfaced after pro-New Patriotic Party (NPP) activist @Gen_Buhari raised concerns about the National Democratic Congress (NDC) being a viable alternative to the current government.
The pro-NPP page asserts that the NDC flagbearer, John Mahama, cannot lead the country again.
And you say John Mahama is the Alternative? The same Mahama who made Doctors work for 11 months without a salary??? 😭 pic.twitter.com/n3rNOsCIDF
The latest Ghana Human Development Report, titled “The Future Value of Work in Ghana,” has raised alarms about the potential deterioration of the country’s health system if urgent measures are not taken to address the significant outflow of locally trained doctors and nurses.
The report highlights a troubling trend: 24 percent of nurses trained in Ghana are currently employed abroad due to unfavorable working conditions. The situation is even more severe for doctors, with half of the country’s trained physicians having left for better opportunities overseas.
Authored by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in collaboration with the Statistical Service and the National Development Planning Commission, the report emphasizes that the Ghanaian health sector is in a precarious state.
It calls for immediate policy and pragmatic interventions to prevent a total collapse of the healthcare system.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana’s health system showcased its ability to handle emergencies effectively. However, the sector continues to face significant challenges, including shortages of essential materials such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and a dwindling workforce due to the emigration of qualified health personnel.
The Global Partnership Network’s 2024 data underscores the gravity of the situation, estimating that 50 percent of doctors and 24 percent of nurses trained in Ghana are working abroad.
This migration is attributed to poor working conditions for healthcare professionals within the country. The report stresses that without prompt intervention, the already fragile health system could deteriorate further.
To address these issues, the Future of Work report outlines several strategies to make the healthcare system more responsive to the nation’s evolving health needs. As the disease burden grows more complex due to factors like environmental issues, changing age structures, and lifestyle shifts, the healthcare system must adapt accordingly.
The report identifies 11 critical areas within Ghana’s health policy that require strengthening, including health promotion, palliative care, and rehabilitative care, which have traditionally lagged behind preventive and curative care. It advocates for a greater focus on health promotion, particularly primary healthcare and environmental health, to enhance both direct and indirect impacts on human capital development.
Furthermore, the report suggests adopting a life course approach to health delivery. This approach would address the needs of various population groups, such as the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and marginalized communities in urban slums, who often cannot fully benefit from existing curative and preventive care services.
Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has stated that bungalows belonging to Ridge Hospital have been sold off.
According to him, the doctors’ relocation could potentially hinder their ability to provide prompt and effective medical assistance during critical situations.
Speaking to TV3, Ablakwa asserted that the government has directed prison officers in Osu to vacate their barracks by July this year, citing the sale of the facility to private developers as the reason.
He indicated that this action is part of the government’s broader agenda to privatize public assets.
Furthermore, Ablakwa disclosed that lands under the Parks and Gardens Department have also been sold.
He explained that he received information from an insider who detailed how employees were surprised by individuals claiming ownership of the land.
He highlighted the critical impact of such transactions on public lands designated for recreational and environmental purposes, emphasizing the need to preserve them.
“Are you aware that the parks and gardens have been sold? They called me that they went to work one day and some people showed up that they are the new owners. They went to Prisons near Osu roundabout, the barracks they have given up to July to vacate because they have sold it to private developers.
“Go to Airport, all the way to DVLA, all of those trucks of land are all gone. There are some doctors at Ridge hospitals and others who have told me that their bungalows have been sold, they now have to go and leave far away, if there is an emergency how will they help?,” he added.
Ablakwa criticized the lack of transparency surrounding these sales and called for a comprehensive investigation to uncover the legality and parties involved in these transactions.
Known for his outspoken activism, Ablakwa recently organized a protest titled ‘Hands off our Hotels’ on June 18, 2024.
The protest aimed to halt the government’s plan to sell 60 percent shares in four SSNIT-owned hotels to Rock City Hotel, owned by Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong.
Ablakwa has also announced plans for a second phase of the protest in the Central Region, assuring residents that their concerns regarding the sale of Elmina Beach Hotel and Ridge Royal Hotel will be addressed.
The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, has announced the recruitment of 220 doctors this month by the GHS in collaboration with the Ministries of Health and Finance.
This initiative aims to address staffing shortages in hospitals nationwide.
“We want to use this opportunity to also let you know that GHS, with the supervision of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance, we are recruiting another 220 doctors this month so we will be able to replenish the losses in the hospital and other parts of the country,” he said when he accompanied the President’s representative at the Ministry of Health Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye to pay a working visit to the Tema General Hospital on Thursday, May 2.
Accompanying the President’s representative at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, on a visit to the Tema General Hospital, Dr. Kuma-Aboagye highlighted the importance of replenishing healthcare personnel to meet the needs of communities.
Dr. Okoe-Boye, during the visit, outlined the government’s strategies to enhance healthcare delivery and future plans.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to leveraging modern technology to improve healthcare services, including the implementation of modern information and communication technology and the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS).
Under Dr. Okoe-Boye’s leadership, the Ministry of Health has achieved significant milestones in disease control and outbreak management. The implementation of the LightWave Health Information Management System has facilitated real-time data access for informed decision-making in healthcare delivery.
Dr. Okoe-Boye also highlighted plans to integrate eHealth and telemedicine initiatives into the healthcare system, aiming to pilot telemedicine programs in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service.
Additionally, he praised the Ghana Health Service’s e-learning platform for continuous professional development, ensuring ongoing skill enhancement for healthcare professionals.
Reflecting on Ghana’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Okoe-Boye commended the efficient crisis management and increased vaccination coverage. He noted improvements in malaria-related mortality rates and postnatal care coverage as additional achievements during the pandemic.
The government’s commitment to healthcare infrastructure development was underscored by Dr. Okoe-Boye, with various projects underway across the country.
These include the completion of phase two of the University of Ghana Medical Center, the introduction of urology and kidney transplant services, and the enhancement of regional and district hospitals.
In conclusion, Dr. Okoe-Boye reiterated the government’s dedication to providing quality, accessible, and affordable healthcare. He emphasized ongoing efforts to bridge infrastructure gaps and enhance healthcare delivery nationwide.
Public hospital doctors in Kenya have turned down a government proposal aimed at resolving a prolonged strike that has disrupted healthcare services.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) initiated the strike on March 14 due to issues such as unpaid salary arrears, delays in deploying medical interns, and other grievances.
In a recent development, the government urged the doctors to conclude their strike, assuring that salary arrears had been settled and medical interns would be recruited starting this Thursday.
Abidan Mwachi, the chairman of KMPDU, rejected the government’s proposals on the social media platform X, stating that they do not align with a collective bargaining agreement established in 2017 during a previous three-month doctors’ strike.
The strike action by doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has been suspended following several meetings with stakeholders and management.
As a result, the doctors will immediately resume their full clinical, academic, and administrative duties at the facility.
This decision was communicated in a notice issued by Dr. Michael Leat, Chairman of the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association, dated March 14.
The strike, initiated on Wednesday, March 13, stemmed from accommodation challenges, with claims that over 30 colleagues had received eviction notices and were given a one-week ultimatum to vacate their bungalows at Danyame.
The disruption in healthcare delivery caused frustration and inconvenience to patients.
In response to the situation, hospital management engaged in a series of meetings with the striking doctors and other stakeholders to address the issues.
Following these discussions, the doctors expressed satisfaction with the assurances from management and agreed to end the strike.
Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei Mensah has dismissed claims suggesting that doctors of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) are being forced out of their bungalows at Danyame by private developers.
Simon Osei Mensah revealed that the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council is relocating all government workers within an enclave of state lands around Danyame and Nhyiaeso, which have been ceded to the Manhyia Palace.
He clarified that new facilities are being constructed for the affected government workers, refuting claims of forceful eviction. He assured that the relocation is aimed at improving working conditions for the employees.
“A portion of state lands within Danyame and Nhyiaeso have been ceded to Manhyia and as a result, we have to relocate all government workers that live within that area.
“Some of the structures are sited on maybe an acre plot of land and in such instances, we demolish it and build more buildings to enable us to have enough places for the workers.”
Doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and other medical workers are considering abandoning their duties to search for new accommodation following the alleged takeover of their current residencies by private developers.
A crucial meeting is currently underway among the health workers to address the accommodation challenges they are facing.
The medical workers, particularly those affiliated with the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, claim they have been given a week’s ultimatum by the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council to vacate their existing residences. They allege that their bungalows have been sold to private developers.
Ashanti Regional President of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr. Paa Kwasi Baidoo, emphasized in an interview with Citi News that the outcomes of the meeting will determine their next course of action.
He expressed dismay at the sudden displacement of hospital staff from their homes, highlighting the agreement made with Manhyia Palace for new accommodations before the handover of the land. However, this agreement has allegedly been disregarded.
“You will notice that a lot of our staff live 15 to 20 minutes away from the hospital and all of a sudden, people will come and ask you to move from your place because it has been sold to them and we took that issue up and we met with Manhyia on it and it was agreed that a new place be prepared to move us there before you can take possession of the land, they have disregarded that with impunity and so we are meeting this morning.
“We will all leave the hospital to go and look for accommodation because we don’t have a place to sleep.”
Doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and other medical workers are considering abandoning their duties to search for new accommodation following the alleged takeover of their current residences by private developers.
A crucial meeting is currently underway among the health workers to address the accommodation challenges they are facing.
The medical workers, particularly those affiliated with the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, claim they have been given a week’s ultimatum by the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council to vacate their existing residences. They allege that their bungalows have been sold to private developers.
Ashanti Regional President of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr. Paa Kwasi Baidoo, emphasized in an interview with Citi News that the outcomes of the meeting will determine their next course of action.
He expressed dismay at the sudden displacement of hospital staff from their homes, highlighting the agreement made with Manhyia Palace for new accommodations before the handover of the land. However, this agreement has allegedly been disregarded.
“You will notice that a lot of our staff live 15 to 20 minutes away from the hospital and all of a sudden, people will come and ask you to move from your place because it has been sold to them and we took that issue up and we met with Manhyia on it and it was agreed that a new place be prepared to move us there before you can take possession of the land, they have disregarded that with impunity and so we are meeting this morning.
“We will all leave the hospital to go and look for accommodation because we don’t have a place to sleep.”
The Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council is relocating all government workers within an enclave of state lands around Danyame and Nhyiaeso, which have been ceded to the Manhyia Palace.
Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei Mensah stated that the relocation is a planned effort to move all government workers within a specified enclave of state lands around Danyame and Nhyiaeso, ceded to the Manhyia Palace.
He clarified that new facilities are being constructed for the affected government workers, refuting claims of forceful eviction. He assured that the relocation is aimed at improving working conditions for the employees.
“A portion of state lands within Danyame and Nhyiaeso have been ceded to Manhyia and as a result, we have to relocate all government workers that live within that area.
“Some of the structures are sited on maybe an acre plot of land and in such instances, we demolish it and build more buildings to enable us to have enough places for the workers.”
The Medical and Dental Council has welcomed 72 new practitioners into its ranks, hailing from esteemed institutions like the University of Ghana Dental School, Accra, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology School of Medical Sciences Dental School, among others.
Draped in their white overcoats and solemnly placing their right hands on their chests, the inductees solemnly recited the physician’s oath.
With this oath, they pledged unwavering commitment to serving humanity and prioritizing the health and well-being of their patients, while upholding the sanctity of human life.
Dr. Divine Ndonbi Banyubala, the Registrar of the council, emphasized the weighty responsibility now bestowed upon the inductees.
He stressed the transition from the role of students, under the guidance of teachers, to that of practitioners, directly responsible for the lives entrusted to them.
The registrar emphasized the pivotal role of these practitioners, entrusted with the power to make decisions that can literally be matters of life or death.
He assured the council’s dedication to maintaining unparalleled healthcare standards in the country.
Reflecting on the gravity of their new titles, Prof. Dr. Ernest Yorke, speaking on behalf of the Board Chair of the MDC, Prof. Paul Kwame Nyame, urged the inductees to deeply consider the solemn responsibilities accompanying their profession.
He underscored the importance of empathy, humanity, and a profound sense of duty in their interactions with patients.
Prof. Nyame reminded the new doctors of the foundational principles of their profession, stressing the importance of the doctor-patient relationship and advocating for treating patients with dignity, respect, and compassion. He encouraged them to empower patients to actively participate in their healthcare decisions.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Alhaji Hafiz Adam, reiterated the significance of the knowledge, skills, and competencies possessed by the new practitioners.
He highlighted the imperative to address challenges such as professional negligence and unethical behavior in the healthcare sector, outlining collaborative efforts between the MDC and the Ministry of Health to elevate standards and foster a healthier, more equitable society.
The young doctors are not happy with the government’s plan to add more trained doctors to the system.
South Korea doesn’t have enough doctors for the number of patients. The government wants to increase the number of spaces in medical schools to have more doctors available.
However, doctors do not like the idea of more competition, according to experts.
The doctors at this hospital are paid a lot of money compared to other doctors around the world. The average specialist at a public hospital earns almost $200,000 a year, which is much more than what most people in the country make.
However, right now there are only 2. 5 doctors for every 1,000 people. This is the second lowest rate in the group of countries called OECD, with Mexico being the lowest.
“Having more doctors means they have to compete with each other, which can lead to them earning less money. ” Prof Kwon Soon-man, a health expert at Seoul National University, said they don’t agree with the idea of having more doctors.
The country doesn’t have enough doctors in far-away places, and also not enough in specialities like children’s health and childbirth. These specialities are not seen as profitable as some other types of medicine like skin and plastic surgery.
Almost 6,500 new doctors and trainees, which is about half of the total, handed in their resignation letters on Monday, according to the country’s health ministry.
About 1,600 doctors didn’t go to work from that group. The Korean Medical Association and Korea Interns and Residents Association asked their members to stop working completely on Tuesday.
The government told doctors to start working again, and President Yoon Suk-yeol criticized a campaign that he said was putting people’s lives and health at risk.
He said he knew of cases where cancer surgeries had been delayed because of the walk-outs. South Korean news said some patients had to leave or go to different hospitals.
Young doctors are a big part of the staff in the emergency rooms. According to Yonhap, almost 37% of doctors in the largest hospitals in Seoul could be impacted.
“We are very upset that trainee doctors are not willing to work,” said Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo to reporters earlier this week.
On Tuesday, he said the government will use the law to stop the strike. The government can take away a doctor’s license if their actions hurt national healthcare.
The country has taken legal action against doctors who went on strike before. The government said it was going to do something to two officials of the Korean Medical Association on Tuesday.
Almost 6,500 new doctors decided to quit their jobs on Monday, which is about half of all the new doctors in the country. This information came from the health ministry.
Out of the group, around 1,600 doctors didn’t come to work. The Korean Medical Association and Korea Interns and Residents Association asked their members to not work at all on Tuesday.
The government wants doctors to start working again. President Yoon Suk-yeol is angry at the campaign that is hurting people’s lives and health.
He said he knew of situations where cancer surgeries had been delayed because of the strikes. South Korean news say some patients have had to leave the hospital or go to a different one.
Young doctors are a big part of the staff in emergency rooms. A news report said that as many as 37% of doctors at the largest hospitals in Seoul could be affected.
“We are very unhappy that trainee doctors are not willing to work,” said Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo to reporters earlier this week.
On Tuesday, he said the government will use the law to end the strike. The government can take away a doctor’s license if they do something that harms the nation’s healthcare.
The country has charged doctors in the past for going on strike. The government said it was doing something about two officials from the Korean Medical Association on Tuesday.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has disclosed that a total of 3,688 healthcare professionals have emigrated in the past three years in search of better opportunities abroad.
This exodus includes both professional and critical caregivers.
Some of these departing health professionals cite unfavorable working conditions in Ghana as the primary reason for leaving their posts in pursuit of more favorable prospects overseas.
In response to the growing concern, the Ghana Health Service has implemented measures to address the issue.
In 2021, they revised and doubled study leave for unprofessional nurses.
The service expects that by the middle of the next year, many of these nurses taking advantage of the initiative will have qualified to fill the resulting staffing gap.
However, during the parliamentary debate on the Health Ministry’s 2024 budget, Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu suggested that the government should consider increasing remuneration to counteract this trend.
In his words, “Mr. Speaker, I think that we should look at the remuneration [of nurses]. If we look at the compensation, it was over and above what was allocated, and if people have left, the compensation should then climb up. We should do a proper audit of the nurses who have left to know the deficit and should be able to employ to replace those who have exited.”
Healthcare professionals in the Greater Accra Region have urged the government to establish an insurance program specifically designed for health workers.
Additionally, they are appealing for incentive packages to be provided to those working in remote areas.
They argue that, these measures will enhance healthcare staff commitment and ensure their well-being.
Reverend Dr. Ebenezer Asiamah, Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Directors of Health, highlighted these crucial points during an awards ceremony honoring over 5,000 frontline and allied health workers in the region.
Dr. Asiamah emphasized, “I would ask that the President should still consider health workers and the good things we are doing… We don’t even have an insurance policy for health workers. There’s no insurance policy, we sacrifice daily, and our motto says ‘your health our concern’ so for our health, who is concerned? It is a question, and I believe the president will hear us. If I’m now going to a deprived place and I know I won’t pay water and light bills, there’s accommodation, free transportation, I will sacrifice a young nurse or doctor or any profession to serve a number of years.”
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, expressed his commitment to collaborate with the health sector minister in addressing these concerns.
He acknowledged that the President has discussed similar incentives to motivate healthcare professionals and other disciplines.
He assured that these issues are not new to the President and that efforts are being made to improve the overall economic situation.
Approximately 15,000 doctors in Nigeria are persisting with their strike action to protest against inadequate working conditions and low pay, resulting in the complete shutdown of healthcare services in public hospitals.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has revealed that a significant number of doctors are opting to leave the country for more favorable job opportunities overseas, and unfortunately, they are not being replaced by new medical professionals.
One such doctor, Dr. Adenuga Omogbolahan, has also joined the ranks of medical staff who have walked out in solidarity with the ongoing strike.
“We are not asking for too much, we are saying they should increase the minimum wage because the current minimum wage is a criminal wage, it’s not a living wage, it cannot take us anywhere,” he explains.
“So, that’s why we are saying, ‘let the take home, take us home,’ the take home cannot take us home again. Doctors cannot come to work; they are trekking to work.”
The Association of Resident Doctors at Lagos University Teaching Hospital is led by physician Kemi Abiloye.
She adds: “For somebody like me, I’m really overworked, I will be on call for almost 48 hours, I don’t go home to see my children, I don’t see my husband.
“Government employed me, government is not paying my salary you know, I don’t have that social relationship with my family and here with work I don’t even have money to feed myself.”
Doctors are significantly poorer today than they were 15 years ago in actual terms due to stagnant salaries since 2009 and a decline in the value of the naira.
“We are left with no other options,” adds Abiloye. “We’ve advocated, we’ve lobbied, there’s nothing we have not done. Our national executive practically sleeps on the street of Abuja, entering one offices to another, from finance to budget, to this and that just to ensure that they solve issues, but they are frustrated. They just can’t get any audience.”
The World Health Organisation reports that Nigeria has a ratio of four doctors to 10,000 patients as of 2021.
However, the Nigerian Medical Association says it is closer to a ratio of two doctors to 10,000 patients generally and one to 10,000 in some rural areas. Such staffing levels would make Nigeria’s doctor staffing one of the worst globally.
On the first day of a strike initiated by public service doctors in Nigeria, government hospitals experienced a complete shutdown of services, causing significant difficulties for patients seeking healthcare.
The president of the resident doctors’ union informed the BBC that his members had exhausted all possible avenues to resolve the crisis before resorting to the strike.
At the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano, the largest city in the north-west region, the situation was dire as patients were turned away and advised to take their sick relatives back home due to the unavailability of doctors to attend to them.
Khadijah Hassan had brought her husband, who was involved in a car accident, to the hospital at midnight on Wednesday, but the doctors refused to provide medical attention due to the strike.
The patient was left lying down in the hospital corridors. “What are we going to do? We will have to sit here in the hospital till the doctors resume work,” she said.
Khadijah’s situation mirrored that of Ishiaku Musa, who brought his elder brother from a neighboring state to the teaching hospital in Kano 12 days ago. Ishiaku’s brother was suffering from migraine headaches, but due to the ongoing strike, they were only given prescriptions and asked to leave without any significant improvement in his condition.
In the capital city, Abuja, the local chapter of the doctors’ union was still attending to patients as they awaited a statement from the national body regarding joining the strike.
In Lagos, the commercial hub, doctors were still attending to admitted patients, but no new patients were being admitted.
The resident doctors, who constitute a significant portion of Nigeria’s tertiary hospital doctors, have gone on strike until their demands concerning salaries and welfare are met. They are seeking immediate payment of salary arrears owed to them, a new hazard allowance, and the establishment of a training fund.
Given Nigeria’s fragile healthcare system, strikes by resident doctors could have a substantial impact on medical services in government hospitals nationwide.
Nigerian doctors are on strike, according to a prominent doctor, in order to demand that the government quickly hire doctors for dangerously understaffed public hospitals.
“Our first request is for the government to quickly replace the doctors and nurses that have left the system. A lot of our colleagues have left the country in search of greener pastures,” Dr Emeka Innocent Orji, president of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (Nard), told BBC Newsday’s Rob Young.
Their “total and indefinite strike” was also because an earlier pay deal had not been honoured by the government, he said.
Due to the demanding working conditions, Nard employees were “breaking down and dying,” and patients were suffering as a result of the “brain drain” in the workforce.
There areNigerian doctors available, according to Dr. Orji, who added that the government should act fast to fill the gap before they decide to leave the nation as well.
According to the International College of Surgeons, Nigerian Section (ICS-NS), one destination for Nigerian medical professionals is the UK, where their numbers increased from 4,765 in 2017 to 10,986 in 2023.
In Nigeria, there are currently more than 4,000 patients per doctor. A doctor should see 600 patients, according to the World Health Organization.
Professor J.E. Mensah, the department head, at least three surgeons leave their positions at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) Department of Surgery each month in search of better opportunities.
According to Prof. Mensah, the situation peaked during the introduction of COVID-19 and has continued to be severe in other hospital departments.
“During and after COVID, there was and is a high demand for specialised medical staff and critical expertise worldwide. These experts are leaving the country, especially critical-care nurses and doctors,” he said.
In the same vein, over the past six years, approximately 150 experienced nurses and other health workers have departed Pantang Hospital in Accra alone in search of better opportunities.
100 of those are specialized psychiatric and general nurses, with the remaining professionals in the healthcare delivery system including doctors, pharmacists, technicians, and other skilled workers.
More concerningly, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) reports that over 3,000 nurses and midwives reportedly left the country in 2022 alone in pursuit of greener pastures.
Aggressive hiring procedures
According to Prof. Mensah, some western countries are even more aggressive, and are employing bonded nurses and doctors using attractive salaries that these experts cannot reject.
As long as those hospitals abroad are offering very attractive salaries, the situation seems impossible to halt, he said, adding: “We cannot match the salaries being offered in Europe and North America, and it has become difficult to convince these people to stay”.
He said the western countries are very much interested in the skilled medical expertise which KBTH and other health facilities across the country are endowed with. He lamented that low salaries for doctors and specialised medical staff remains the problem.
Salary disparity
Interestingly, the B&FT observed that a medical doctor who currently works at the KBTH or other national hospitals across the country do not earn up to US$400 per month.
Also, a senior medical doctor who may have practiced for more than two decades, and probably a lecturer at a medical school in Ghana, does not earn up to US$1,500 per month in salaries and allowances.
According to Forbes, an expert doctor of any nationality who is employed in the US is likely to get paid an average annual salary of US$165,347 and more in some fields.
Willingness to stay
Despite the temptation to leave, Prof. Mensah said some doctors are prepared to stay and offer their services here.
“For some of us, we know this is our country and we are determined to stay and encourage the younger ones to also stay and give their best,” he said.
He encouraged government to invest in training more doctors and ensure that they are employed as quickly as possible.
President Akufo-Addo has encouraged nurses and midwives to embrace postings to rural areas, where their valuable services are in high demand.
He said the refusal of some healthcare professionals to accept postings to some parts of the country was not helpful to efforts at making quality healthcare services accessible to all Ghanaians.
The President made the call on Friday at a grand durbar to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana, Legon.
The anniversary is being celebrated under the theme: “Resilience in Developing Nursing and Midwifery Workforce: Embracing Technology and Promoting Excellence.”
Underlining the need for the equitable distribution of healthcare professionals across the country, President Akufo-Addo thought it was unfair for health workers to be concentrated in cities and urban areas to the detriment of people in rural settings.
He asked nurses and midwives to emulate their forebearers who accepted work in any part of the country even when the national infrastructure was not the best and without the incentive packages being offered presently by the government.
“Our schools of Nursing and Midwifery have got a good reputation and have been training good nurses and midwives who easily find work in all parts of the world.
“But the nurse-population ratio in our country remains unsatisfactory after 66 years of our nation. We currently do not have the number of healthcare professionals with the right mix of skills and expertise in some of our regions, districts, and deprived communities, especially in the newly created regions and districts.
“Nurses refusing postings is particularly distressing. I want to use this platform to encourage all health practitioners to follow the worthy example of your great forebearers who readily accepted postings in their early years when the national infrastructure was even more harrowing than it is.
“Therefore, I am appealing to you as passionately as I can to accept postings to all regions and district hospitals where your services are most needed,” he said.
Ghanaian medical students studying inUkrainemust present proof of active enrollment to the Scholarship Secretariat in order to receive payment for their fees, according to the head of international relations for the scholarship secretariat, Richard Gyamfi.
Some students say they are facing the threat of being expelled as the government has failed to pay their fees since 2021.
But speaking to the media, Mr Gyamfi said the students have been notified to send proof for payment.
“We have asked the students to provide documents that can provide proof that they are students and still in education because when we compiled the list of beneficiaries, one of their own came to tell us that most of the names on the list are not in school. Some decided to go to Germany while others went to Hungary, so we said instead of making a blanket payment, they should prove to us that they are still in school because the scholarships are renewed yearly.”
The students however insist that the needed information has been submitted but ignored by the Secretariat.
A spokesperson for the aggrieved students said many of their letters to both the Secretariat and the Ghanaian Embassy have gone without any response.
“I have personally sent an email to him [Head ofInternational Relations for the Scholarship Secretariat] and he replied and told me that I should never send an email to him again because he is not responsible for the students.
“I pleaded with him and told him that my situation is critical and it is true that it is not all the 25 of us that are still studying in Ukraine but those that are in a critical situation and they asked that we provide evidence that we were still studying in Ukraine, we did that but those that they have paid are only people who are politically linked.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has noted that there are 252 vacancies in the health sector for newly qualified medical doctors.
These are doctors who were recently granted financial clearance and opted to work with the GHS through the Ministry of Health Posting Portal.
They are to visit the regions across the countries and submit their documents i.e. MDC Permanent Registration and Medical School Certificates for placement by the close of work on Friday 9th June, 2023.
Newly qualified medical doctors are by this communiqué informed of available vacancies in the regions. Kindly submit documents to region of choice by Friday, 9th June 2023. pic.twitter.com/n8lcjDuLK6
— Ghana Health Service (@_GHSofficial) May 17, 2023
The regions have slots for a total of 236 medical officers and 16 dentists.
Ten medical officers are needed in the Ahafo Region, whereas 20 are needed in the Ashanti Region. In the Bono Region, 15 medical officers and a dentist are needed.
The Bono East Region has 10 slots for medical officers and two for Dentists.
The Central Region has space for 15 medical officers while the Eastern Region has room for 20 medical officers and two dentists.
The Greater Accra Region has slots for 15 medical officers; North East wants 10 medical officers and a dentist; Northern Region needs 20 medical officers and two dentists while the Oti Region requires the assurance of 13 medical officers.
The remaining regions are as follows: Savannah (10 medical officers, 2 dentists), Upper East (15 medical officers, 1 dentist), Upper West (15 medical officers, 2 dentists), Volta (15 medical officers, 1 dentist), Western (20 medical officers, 2 dentists) and Western North (13 medical officers).
On February Saturday, 18 February 2023, a total of 120 graduates of Medicine and Dentistry after completing the prescribed and approved academic and practical training in the form of Housemanship were inducted.
All inductees wrote and passed the Licensure Examinations conducted by the Medical and Dental Council, Ghana (MDC Ghana).
They are from various accredited training institutions including the University of Ghana (UG), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), the University of Cape Coast (UCC), the University for Development Studies (UDS), Accra College of Medicine (ACM), as well as other foreign-trained doctors who sat and passed the Council’s professional qualifying examinations.
In October 2022, the Medical and Dental Council (MDC) last Saturday inducted 461 newly qualified medical and dental practitioners into its fold.
One major issue confronting the Medical and Dental Council is the huge number of medical professionals, especially medical doctors, leaving the country to seek opportunities abroad.
A 2021 report from the House of Commons in the United Kingdom revealed that there are more health professionals of Ghanaian origin working for the National Health Service (NHS-UK) than in Ghana.
According to the report, a total of 3,395 healthcare workers from Ghana are working in the UK. This is against a total of 3,236 Ghanaians working in the country as of 2021, according to statistica.com.
The Council has entreated the health professionals to remain in the country and offer their services.
Unregistered oxytocin is being sold on the Ghanaian market, this according to the Food and Drugs Authority(FDA).
In a statement issued on Friday (21 April 2023), the FDA said “the pharmaceutical products are not registered with the FDA and therefore their quality, safety and efficacy cannot be ascertained”.
“The FDA is therefore informing all health facilities and medical stores of the above-mentioned products to stop using them immediately and return them to the nearest FDA offices throughout the country. Meanwhile, the FDAis liaising with importers to ensure that the market is rid of these unregistered pharmaceutical products,” the statement said.
“In this regard, the Authority is taking the necessary regulatory actions to prevent any such future occurrence,” the statement added.
However, the FDA has assured the public that it is taking all the necessary precautions to ensure that medical products on the Ghanaian market are safe, efficacious and of the right quality.
Health Minister,Kwaku Agyeman Manuhas revealed that some public health facilities in the nation are giving patients fraudulent pharmaceuticals, a phenomenon he called a threat to both the provision of medical care and human life.
The Health minister made this unfortunate disclosure in Kumasi when he addressed stakeholders in the health sector during the First Senior Managers Meeting of the Ghana Health Service.
The event brought together health partners, traditional leaders, and private investors in the health sector, representatives from theWorld Health Organization (WHO)among other stakeholders.
The four day conference which started on the 18th April 2023 will be used to review the major issues affecting quality health care delivery and prescribed implementable solutions policy for the sector.
Speaking on the theme “Enhancing Primary Healthcare Approaches Towards Achieving Universal Health Coverage”, Health Minister Agyeman Manu tasked stakeholders in the sector to ensure excellence in healthcare delivery across the country.
He appealed to health workers to help fight the problem of administering fake drugs to avoid sending patients to their early grave.
He questioned the justification behind the use of unapproved medicine otherwise known as ‘fake medicine’ in treating patients in health facilities.
“I have a note on my desk from the FDA over fake medication falsified drugs usage in public health facilities and the very common one is oxytocin and I believe all of you here will know that Oxytocin dose. We are talking about maternal mortalities, and that is one drug I understand will help stop what happens after delivery. The FDA has put together the list and is seeking my approval to name and shame. So some of us are going to see ourselves in the public domain for using fake drugs. This is not the first time, about three years ago they did the same thing and reported. So what is the motivation to take in fake drugs in our own facilities not all but the FDA woman want to name and shame some of us and should that happen invariably it goes to actually distort what we are fighting for better educators with maternal health and mortalities so how are we going to solve this problem ?’’ he asked.
MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE AND WRONG MEDICAL PRESCRIPTION
The minister also disclosed that the Health Ministry is overwhelmed with legal cases over its staff negligence and wrong medication prescription on duty.
He admitted before he took over six years ago the situation wasn’t that bad like today and questioned whether the health practitioners have forgotten what they were taught in health training institutions to warrant these unfortunate developments.
“What I’m seeing of late in the ministry are issues of litigation for the past four weeks or so. Almost every week we get at least one letter from the attorney general’s office that somebody has sued our staff with a problem of health care service delivery and they want us to come with information for them to go to court with. Then we refer to the Director General Dr. Kumah Aboagye but I have been with you for the past six years. Earlier when I came in those things were not happening that much but now it has become something very common. So what is it, deliberate efforts to try and go to court, get somebody to take us to court or you have forgotten why you were trained to do in more efficient manner negligence or what is happening but since you are the senior managers of what we do in health I throw this challenge on you and your strategic meetings to discuss how this problem can be resolved” he stressed.
Sudanese medical professionals are once again pleading for medical assistance and outside help to put an end to the conflict in their nation.
In a post on Facebook, the Sudanese Medical Association appealed for “aid and medical supplies to all hospitals and health facilities in Khartoum and the areas of clashes in the various states”.
It also called on the international community, human rights and diplomatic organisations to put pressure on both sides of the conflict to stop the fighting and provide safe passages for civilians.
It added the safe passage of ambulances and medical personnel should be allowed, and the necessary security for health facilities and hospitals provided.
Doctors in Sudan are once again pleading for medical assistance and outside help to put an end to the violence.
In a post on Facebook, the Sudanese Medical Association appealed for “aid and medical supplies to all hospitals and health facilities in Khartoum and the areas of clashes in the various states”.
Also, it urged the international community, human rights organizations, and diplomatic bodies to exert pressure on all parties to the conflict to put an end to hostilities and ensure the safety of civilians.
It further stated that hospitals and healthcare institutions should have the required security in place in order to ensure the safe transit of ambulances and medical workers.
The Ministry of Health has instructed its employees not to use the company’s elevator on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The Ministry directed its staff not to access the lift on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The directive, the Ministry explained amongst others was necessitated by the government’s debt restructuring and huge amount of money used in maintaining the elevators.
In a memorandum to the staff sighted by citinewsroom.com, the management said, “As you are aware, the country is going through some Economic Restructuring. This situation has impacted on Government’s financial releases to all Public Sector Institutions. Management has also noticed the huge amount of funds expended on maintaining the Ministry’s facilities including the elevators”.
The Health Ministry entreated its staff to support the initiative by complying with the directive.
“Consequently, Management and all staff members are encouraged to support this initiative by complying with the directive. Counting on your usual cooperation,” the Ministry added in the memorandum signed by its Director, General Administration, Frank Raji.
According to David Tenkorang, general secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association(GRNMA), the senior health professionals leaving to other countries are the experienced and competent ones.
He said if this situation is not attended to immediately, it will have a dire impact on healthcare delivery in Ghana.
Mr Tenkorang identified what is causing the brain drain among health workers after indicating that the salaries of nurses and midwives are not the best.
Also, he said, the general condition of service for health workers is poor.
He was commenting on the red listing of Ghana by theWorld Health Organisation(WHO) and the United Kingdom (UK).
Ghana was included on a list of 54 countries that should not be targeted for recruitment by health and social care employers in the UK due to a UHC Service Coverage Index lower than 50 and a density of doctors, nurses, and midwives below the global median.
Mr Tenkorang told Martin Asiedu Darteh on the Midday Live on TV3 Wednesday, April 12 that “it is quite a disturbing issue because it is going to negatively impact the healthcare delivery in Ghana.
“The government has set out to build Agenda 111 and all these hospitals will have to be populated by nurses and midwives. If we don’t take in drastic actions to stop the situation, it will certainly adversely impact healthcare delivery.”
He added: “As far as 2020, we saw this coming even before Covid reared its ugly head because some of the Scandinavian and European countries have had their nurses move out of UK and therefore we have a certain kind of attrition. The salaries of midwives and nurses in Ghana is nothing to write home about.”
“We need our skilled manpower to take care of the good people of this country. Those who are leaving are not the ones who just completed school, they are the experienced ones, those who have ten years to go on retirement, those who have fifteen years.
“So there is going to be a vacuum because these are the very experienced, competent nurses and midwives who should mentor the newly recruited. If we allow them to leave the way they are leaving, then we will have problems.”
Bright Simons, the vice president of IMANI Africa, has provided some clarification about claims that the government of the United Kingdom (UK) has prohibited the hiring of health professionals from Ghana and 53 other nations.
Simons claims that contrary to popular belief, Ghanaian healthcare professionals are still permitted to come to the UK, but that active recruitment from Ghana and the other countries on the list has been suspended by local recruitment firms.
The UK government red-listed recruitment from the 54 countries, according to the IMANI vice president, in a series of tweets sent out on April 10, 2023, because the World Health Organization (WHO) has been requiring it to do so since 2020.
He added that the WHO had placed Ghana on its safeguard list to prevent the requirement of health professions from the country because they are needed locally.
“Reports that the UK has now placed Ghana & Nigeria on a ‘red list’ of countries from which nurses, doctors & care workers cannot migrate to the UK to work is NOT correct. Rather, Ghana & Nigeria have been on a WHO Safeguard List barring ‘active recruitment’ since 2020.
“The List, based on WHO’s 2010 Global Code of Practice, is voluntary. The UK has been lax in enforcement despite domesticating the code. WHO reaffirmed the list in Jan 2023 & pressure from UK health unions increased on the UK to comply & stop recruiting from Red List countries.
“The List, based on WHO’s 2010 Global Code of Practice, is voluntary. The UK has been lax in enforcement despite domesticating the code. WHO reaffirmed the list in Jan 2023 & pressure from UK health unions increased on the UK to comply & stop recruiting from Red List countries.
“Red List Health Workers themselves are not barred from migrating. But their “active recruitment” is barred. What this means is that employment agencies must not seek to attract health workers from such countries. The issue is that many intending migrants rely on such agencies,” parts of the tweets he shared read.
1/ Reports that the UK has *now* placed Ghana & Nigeria on a "red list" of countries from which nurses, doctors & care workers cannot migrate to the UK to work is NOT correct. Rather, Ghana & Nigeria have been on a WHO Safeguard List barring "active recruitment" since 2020. pic.twitter.com/SNbxXzTS2D
3/ Red List Health Workers themselves are not barred from migrating. But their "active recruitment" is barred. What this means is that employment agencies must not seek to attract health workers from such countries. The issue is that many intending migrants rely on such agencies.
In a statement, the National Health Service (NHS) of the UK stated that the listed nations have a UHC Service Coverage Index below 50 and a doctor, nurse, and midwives density below the worldwide median (48.6 per 10,000 population).
The list doesn’t stop specific health and social care workers from applying on their own initiative and without being targeted by a third party, like a recruitment agency or employer, to health and social care employers for employment in the UK. This is known as a direct application.
The countries placed on the red list of ‘No active recruitment’ under the code are Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia.
The rest are Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Federated States of Micronesia, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Republic of Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The United Kingdom has included Ghana, Nigeria, Angola, and Cameroon among 54 countries that should not be actively targeted for recruitment by health and social care employers.
This announcement was made by the UK government in its revised code of practice for international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England, which was published on the NHS Employers website.
The code states that some developing countries, such as Ghana, should not be targeted when actively recruiting health or care professionals.
The countries placed on the red list of ‘No active recruitment’ under the code are Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia.
Other countries are Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Federated States of Micronesia, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Republic of Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Titled: “Code of Practice red and amber list of countries,” the UK Government said the list is based upon the World Health Organisation Workforce Support and Safeguard List, 2023 and will be updated alongside progress reports on WHO Global Code implementation and reported to the World Health Assembly every three years.
The countries listed have a UHC Service Coverage Index that is lower than 50 and a density of doctors, nurses and midwives that is below the global median (48.6 per 10,000 population).
The code applies to the appointment of all international health and social care personnel in the UK, including all permanent, temporary, and locum staff in clinical and non-clinical settings.
The code stated that being on the list doesn’t prevent individual health and social care personnel from independently applying to health and social care employers for employment in the UK, of their own accord and without being targeted by a third party, such as a recruitment agency or employer (known as a direct application).
It defined active international recruitment in the code as the process by which UK health and social care employers (including local authorities), contracting bodies, recruitment organisations, agencies, collaborations, and sub-contractors target individuals to market UK employment opportunities, with the intention of recruiting to a role in the UK health or social care sector. It includes both physical or virtual targeting, and whether or not these actions lead to substantive employment.
This includes but is not limited to allied health professionals, care workers, dentists, doctors, healthcare scientists, medical staff, midwives, nursing staff, residential and domiciliary care workers, social workers, and support staff.
It will be recalled that in March this year, the WHO included Ghana and 54 other countries on its Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List 2023.
The global health body stated that the countries face the most pressing health workforce challenges related to universal health coverage.
“In particular, these countries have: 1) a density of doctors, nurses and midwives below the global median (i.e., 49 per 10 000 population); and 2) a universal health coverage service coverage index below a certain threshold,” WHO said in the report released March 8.
“To account for the disruptions caused to health services by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the effects on health worker mobility and migration, the threshold for the universal health coverage service coverage index for the WHO health workforce support and safeguards list 2023 has been increased from 50 (the value used for the 2020 list) to 55.”
A total of 37 countries were listed under the African Region category, including Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Gabon.
Others were Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.”
Three doctors have been found guilty of the death of a young patient who was the victim of a hospital rape by a court in Guinea.
In 2021, the government reported that M’Mah Sylla had passed away in Tunisia, where she had been flown for medical attention after being raped.
The case caused a great deal of outrage in Guinea.
A court in the capital Conakry has now sentenced Daniel and Patrice Lamah to 15 years in prison and a third doctor, Celestin Millimouna – who is on the run – was given a 20-year sentence.
They were all found guilty of assault and battery as well as carrying out an abortion.
Patrice Lamah and Millimouna were also found guilty of rape.
To stop employees at theKomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital from using social media while at work, administrators have disabled the hospital’s computer systems.
The change is meant to maintain staff attention on patient care and raise the level of medical treatment provided at the hospital.
This is one of a number of measures and interventions implemented by the hospital’s administration to improve patient safety and comfort at the facility.
Professor Otchere Addai-Mensah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital, says the lives of patients who visit the facility, which serves as a referral hospital, cannot be jeopardized.
He said they have blocked the hospital’s “[IT] system to YouTube and other social media platforms to prevent staff from possible loss of concentration on patient care through the use of such platforms.”
The CEO was speaking to department and division heads at the hospital’s end-of-year performance review conference inKumasi.
The Wa East District of the Upper East Regionhas only one doctor, after other medical professionals posted to the area fled due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure.
With a population of over 90,000 people, the district is served by approximately 10 health centers.
Speaking to the media, the district director of theGhana Health Service (GHS) in the region, Dr. Kingsley Pascal, said serious consequences may occur should the scenario persists.
“Because of the nature of the district, the terrain as well as network challenges and the relatively deprived nature of communities, it is very difficult to attract doctors. The facilities there do not have teacher services so usually when they are posted and come around and see the place, they go and do not return. There is no guarantee that things will be addressed in the shortest time.”
He added that although the District Chief Executive and Member of Parliament, have been informed about the issue, not much has been done to solve it.
He adds that, while relevant stakeholders such as the District Chief Executive and Member ofhave been made aware of the situation, little has been done to address it.
“The support is not coming as we expect. The stakeholders haven’t really prioritized what we are looking for. For more than six months we haven’t gotten that attention for things to be sorted out”, Dr Pascal added.
Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria, is in the process of introducing new banknotes for the first time in more than 20 years. The move is an attempt to reignite confidence in the currency, the naira, which is under severe pressure. With inflation at more than 20%, people are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living. It is leading to the largest exodus of young professionals in years.
“Imagine going to the grocery store one day, and everything has tripled in price? How do you even cope? You have a family at home. What do you cut out of the budget?” Oroma Cookey Gam tells me by Zoom, her face incredulous.
The fashion designer left Nigeria’s biggest city, Lagos, with her young family a year ago for the UK capital, London. Her husband and business partner Osione, an artist, was granted a Global Talent visa, which enables leaders in academia, arts and culture, as well as digital technology to work in the UK.
She says it had become too expensive to raise their young family in Lagos. “Our money was buying us less and less. We weren’t able to pay our bills, we weren’t able to do normal things that we were doing.”
Oroma studied law at the UK’s University of Northumbria and moved back to Nigeria almost 20 years ago, keen to use her degree to help develop her country. Along with Osione, she eventually set up This Is Us, a sustainable fashion and lifestyle brand that uses local materials and artisans, including cotton grown and dyed in northern Nigeria.
Initially, the cost of living crisis wasn’t impacting them.
“Because we are 100% sourced in Nigeria, things were not as terrible for us as it was for other people,” Oroma says. “So when everyone was increasing their prices, we skipped a couple of increases because we could manage.”
Image caption,Oroma Cookey Gam moved to London because of the rising cost of living in Nigeria
But eventually their Nigerian customer base was finding it harder to afford non-essential items like clothing – particularly when food accounts for 63% of their spending. This means when the price of food goes up, people have less disposable income.
Oroma says it is particularly bad for young Nigerians. “Speaking to my mum, one thing that I realised is that when they were younger, things were a lot easier for them. They could afford to buy houses, cars.
“I always felt like: ‘What is going on with me?’ I’m failing because I can’t do all the things my mum was doing, but I realised that the country is not working for me.”
She is not the only one to feel this way. Nigeria is experiencing its worst wave of emigration in years. Reliable statistics are hard to find, but the number of Nigerians granted UK work visas has quadrupled since 2019. And 700% more visas have been awarded to Nigerian students.
There are long queues outside immigration processing centres and embassies every day, and everyone here seems to know someone who’s leaving or trying to relocate abroad.
The term “japa”, which means “to run, flee or escape” in Yoruba, has become a popular topic of conversation online, as well as on radio and TV chat shows.
Most of those who can afford to leave the country legally are well educated. They include doctors, nurses, engineers and IT professionals. It’s led some to call the exodus a “brain drain”.
The Nigeria Medical Association, says at least 50 doctors leave Nigeria every week to work abroad. Poor working conditions, coupled with bad pay and the rising cost of living are the main factors.
Kunle Ibisola is a junior doctor who used to work at the University College Hospital (UCH), in the south-western city of Ibadan. He now works for NHS Scotland.
Image caption,Dr Kunle Ibisola moved from Ibadan to Scotland – and his wife and children are set to join him soon
“My story is the story of most Nigerian doctors,” he tells me over the phone. “I never wanted to leave Nigeria. My intention was to start my residency there, become a consultant and practice in my country.
“The main reason I left is salary, and the cost of living. In the UK, if I work six to eight hours of locum work [overtime] and I convert that to naira, it will be the equivalent of my monthly salary in Nigeria. And that’s not even including my main UK salary.”
He says a year ago his hospital in Nigeria started haemorrhaging doctors.
“Some doctors didn’t get paid for six to nine months, because there was an issue with the federal payment system. Some senior colleagues couldn’t afford to drive to work or send their children to school. That was an eye-opener for a lot of people.”
His wife and children are planning to join him in Scotland soon. When I ask him what he thinks the future holds for Nigeria, he grows pensive.
“If I think about it too much, it’s depressing because even people currently in medical school are all planning to leave. If you aren’t planning to leave, people think you’re unfortunate or you don’t have money.”
I have spoken to half a dozen doctors, all with similar stories. Overworked and underpaid, they all decided to relocate over the past two years.
For those left behind, the pressure is immense. Cheta Nwanze, an economic analyst at SBM Intelligence, says Nigeria’s current high rate of inflation is mainly caused by food inflation.
“SBM has this proxy for food inflation called the Jollof Index,” he explains, referring to the tomato-based rice dish, popular across West Africa. “We calculate the average cost of making a pot of jollof rice for a family of five. It was just under 4,000 naira at the start of 2016, and now it’s around 10,000 naira [$22, £18] – so it’s more than doubled in five years.”
Image caption,The price of jollof rice – a staple in West Africa – has surged in Nigeria recently
He explains that although Nigeria has been affected by some of the same drivers of inflation as elsewhere in the world, namely the war in Ukraine and the 2020 pandemic, there are additional factors unique to the country.
He says that many farmers in the north, where much of the country’s food comes from, have been unable to plant their crops in recent years because of attacks by Islamist militants and kidnappers.
“When you couple that with the government’s protectionist policies with respect to food imports, and Nigeria’s growing population, it means there’s less food for more mouths to feed, which drives up inflation.”
The impact of this can be seen in the country’s markets. In Ajah, a small food market in a residential suburb of Lagos, there are fewer people than usual.
Omowunmi Ajekigbe, a market trader, is grating okra under a huge parasol. “Things weren’t too expensive last year,” she tells me, “but this year, it’s too much. You used to see lots of customers rushing about, but now… you barely see anybody.
At a nearby stall, Cordelia Fidelis, a young woman with long braids and a big smile, is haggling with a vegetable seller. She owns a catering business and comes to the market every day.
“The cost of goods is alarming – in just two months the price of yams has more than doubled. It’s crazy, I swear it’s crazy, everything is so expensive. A box of egg is expensive, beef is expensive, palm oil is so expensive.”
Image caption,Private food banks in Lagos are trying to help feed people in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city
Some have started taking drastic action to manage their expenses. Angela Chukwulozie is a retired teacher who now sells Italian shoes. “Since the price of everything has gone up, I’ve cut back on how many meals my family and I eat every day. Instead of eating three times in a day we now eat twice.”
The economy is one of the key concerns for voters in next month’s elections. Despite being Africa’s largest economy, four out of 10 Nigerians live below the poverty line, according to the World Bank. All of the main candidates have promised to improve the country’s economy if elected, but there is scepticism as to whether they can deliver.
The Central Bank says the change of currency, which must be completed by 10 February when the old banknotes will no longer be legal tender, will help bring some of the cash currently being hoarded by individuals and companies back into the banking system.
It says 80% of the notes currently in circulation are outside banks. The organisation hopes the change will give it a better understanding of the money circulating in the economy so it can better manage inflation. Whether or not it will be successful is debatable.
Back in London, Oroma is optimistic, despite the hardships her country is facing.
“There’s no place like home. I go back to Nigeria every three months, because when I haven’t been there, I literally feel like I’m dying.
“I feel like Nigeria is at the point where, if we can change now, it’s not too late. We just need some basics: people need to be educated, we need electricity, we need roads. If we can just do these three things and improve security, I think the potential in Nigeria is amazing.”
Over the weekend, a group of doctors in Uganda caused a stir by kneeling before long-term President Yoweri Museveni and asking him to run for a seventh term.
The 78-year-old ruler has ruled since 1986. The next general election is scheduled for 2026.
According to media coverage of the event, the doctors from the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) were attending a patriotism symposium in Kampala when they were led by their leader to kneel before the president.
Nile Post news site reported that UMA boss Dr Samuel Odongo Oledo praised the president in his speech for transforming the country’s health system and improving the welfare of medical workers.
He went ahead to ask President Museveni to vie again in 2026 as a presidential candidate, the NTV television station reports.
VIDEO: Uganda Medical Association (UMA) members led by their President Dr Samuel Odongo Oledo on Saturday knelt before President Museveni and asked him to stand again in 2026 as a presidential candidate #NTVNewspic.twitter.com/BkldMbKEwB
The gesture sparked controversy on social media, with many accusing the group of being subservient to politicians.
But in a tweet, the UMA distanced itself from the gesture, saying it did not “represent modus operandi of the association”.
It said: “Uganda Medical Associationhas always engaged with the president through formal, professional ways including appreciating him through our annual awards.”
Studies suggest 7 to 9 hours as the normal sleep range. Beyond 9 hours could as predispose you to negative health issues. This means latest by 10 pm one should go to bed. Those with a different work schedule should have a sleep pattern to meet this range(Prof. Nyarkotey).
Some basic lifestyle habits improve our health. However, we fail to adhere to some of these basic nature prescriptions, and this eventually predisposes us to most of the modern health crises. Studies have confirmed the many benefits of sleep on our health. It has also been established we need about 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. However, due to current situations, most fail to get enough sleep.
The interesting thing is that though sleep is good for our health, studies have also confirmed that if you sleeptoo much could also predispose you to cardiovascular diseases. Is this not interesting?
I also found that sleep is akin to eating nutritious food, drinking water, and exercising regularly, getting quality sleep is an important component of overall health. Although the exact reasons humans need to sleep remain unknown, sleep experts agree there are numerous benefits to consistently getting a full night’s rest.
While sleeping, the body performs several repairing and maintaining processes that affect nearly every part of the body. As a result, a good night’s sleep, or a lack of sleep, can impact the body both mentally and physically. In this article, I review the benefits and side effects of too much sleep.
Sleep, supporting literature
Weight
Some studies (Brum et al. 2020; Itani et al. 2017; Cooper et al. 2018) confirmed that when we sleep less than 7 hours per night; we have an increased risk of weight gain and a higher body mass index (BMI).
Another study (Bacaro et al. 2020) also found that adults who slept less than 7 hours per night had a 41% increased risk of developing obesity. On the other hand, when we sleep longer, we experienced no increased risk.
In the case of Cooper et al. (2018), the study held that many factors account for the sleep effect on weight gain, such as hormones and motivation to exercise.
Another study (Ding et al. 2018) found that when we deprived ourselves of sleep, there are increased levels of ghrelin and decreased levels of leptin. These two hormones control our drives to eat: Ghrelin makes us feel hungry and leptin makes us feel full. This may cause us to feel hungrier and overeat.
For instance, two studies (Dashti et al. 2015; Satterfield and Killgore, 2020) found that those who deprived themselves of sleep eat more calories due to a higher appetite drive.
And the danger is that to compensate for the lack of energy, when you deprived yourself of sleep it makes you crave foods that are higher in sugar and fat, due to their higher calorie content (Yang et al. 2019; Khatib et al. 2017).
Sleep improves concentration & Productivity
Studies have established the benefits of sleep on brain function. For instance, (Hudson et al. 2020; Eugene and Masiak, 2015; Krause et al. 2017) studies attest that when we deprived ourselves of sleep, our cognition, concentration, productivity, and performance are all negatively affected.
This was demonstrated in an important study (Trockel et al. 2020) where doctors with moderate, high, and very high sleep-related impairment were 54%, 96%, and 97% more likely to report clinically significant medical errors. This means that medical people need good sleep to save patients.
Apart from that, other studies(Okano et al. 2019; Zeek et al. 2015; Turner et al. 2021; Stormark et al. 2019) found that when we sleep well, we improve our academic performance- children, adolescents, and young adults.
Finally, (Dai et al. 2020; Könen et al. 2015; Rana et al. 2018) also note that when we have good sleep, helps to improve our problem-solving skills and enhance memory performance in both children and adults.
Increases athletic performance
Studies have also confirmed the impact of sleep on athletic performance. For instance, (Vitale et al. 2019; Charest and Grandner, 2020; Bonnar et al. 2018) found that adequate sleep can enhance fine motor skills, reaction time, muscular power, muscular endurance, and problem-solving skills.
In the case of Charest and Grandner (2020), the authors held that lack of sleep could increase our risk of injury and decrease our interest to exercise.
Cardio support
Some studies, (Covassin and Singh, 2016; Javaheri and Redline, 2017; Drager et al. 2017) established that low sleep quality and duration could increase our risk of developing heart disease. In the case of Krittanawong et al.(2017), 19 reviews found that sleeping less than 7 hours per day resulted in a 13% increased risk of death from heart disease.
Another analysis by Yin et al. (2017)found that compared with 7 hours of sleep, each 1-hour decrease in sleep was associated with a 6% increased risk of all-cause mortality and heart disease.
Additionally, (Makarem et al. 2021; Makarem et al. 2019) also found that when we engage in short sleep, it tends to increase the risk of high blood pressure, especially in those with obstructive sleep apnea — a condition characterized by interrupted breathing during sleep.
For instance, Wang et al. (2015) found that people who slept less than 5 hours per night had a 61% higher risk of developing high blood pressure than those who slept 7 hours.
When one would think that it is better to sleep more; It appears otherwise, and three studies(Krittanawong et al. 2019; Yin et al. 2017; Wang et al. 2015) found that excessive sleep in adults — more than 9 hours —is linked to increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.
Diabetes risk
Chattu et al.(2014) established that short sleep is linked to a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance — meaning your body cannot use the hormone insulin appropriately.
In another study, Anothaisintawee et al.(2016) examined 36 studies with over 1 million participants and found that when we sleep 5 hours or 6 hours increased the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 48% and 18%, respectively.
Additionally, Grandner et al. (2016) believed that when we don’t sleep can cause physiological changes like decreased insulin sensitivity, increased inflammation, and hunger hormone changes, as well as behavioral changes like poor decision-making and greater food intake — all of which increase diabetes risk.
Finally, (Grandner et al. 2016; Kim et al. 2018) established that when we also don’t sleep, it can lead to a higher risk of developing obesity, heart disease, and metabolic syndrome, and, in turn, can increase the risk of diabetes.
Poor sleep is linked to depression
Some studies (Li et al. 2016; Marino et al. 2021; Oh et al. 2019) have linked mental health conditions, such as depression, to poor sleep quality and sleeping disorders.
For instance, Oh et al. (2019) study of 2,672 participants found that those with anxiety and depression were more likely to report poorer sleep scores than those without anxiety and depression.
In other studies, (Hayley et al. 2015; Fang et al. 2019) found that people with sleeping disorders such as insomnia or obstructive sleep apnea also report higher rates of depression than those without. This is therefore prudent for those with sleeping challenges and mental health issues to seek medical help.
Immunity enhancement
Some studies (Besedovsky et al. 2019; Opp and Krueger, 2015) have associated lack of sleep to impair immune function.
In one study, Prather et al.(2015) found that respondents who slept less than 5 hours per night were 4.5 times more likely to develop a cold as compared to those who slept more than 7 hours.
Additionally, in a recent study by Prather et al. (2021), the authors found that those who sleep well improve their body’s antibody responses to influenza vaccines. This means good sleep before and after affects vaccination.
This was further confirmed in recent studies by (Benedict and Cedernaes, 2021; Robertson and Goldin, 2022; Zhu et al. 2021; Kow and Hasan, 2021), the authors found that having good sleep before and after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination may improve vaccine efficacy.
Poor sleep and inflammation
Studies have established that not having a good sleep can have a major effect on inflammation in the body. For instance, Irwin, MR(2019) found that sleep plays an important role in the regulation of our central nervous system. The author further asserts that it is also involved in the stress-response systems known as the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
Subsequent studies (Irwin et al. 2016; Irwin, 2019) also linked Sleep loss, from not sleeping, activate inflammatory signaling pathways and lead to higher levels of undesirable markers of inflammation, like interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein.
They further explained that when this happens for a longer period, chronic inflammation can trigger many chronic conditions, including obesity, heart disease, certain types of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and type 2 diabetes.
Emotions and social interactions
Studies have also established that sleep loss reduces our ability to regulate emotions and interact socially. For instance, two studies (Dorrian et al. 2019; Beattie et al. 2015) held that we find it difficult to control our emotions when we become frustrated leading to outbursts. Thus tiredness could also affect our ability to respond to humor and show empathy.
Thus, Simon and Walker’s (2018) study found that people who are frequently sleep-deprived are more likely to withdraw from social events and experience loneliness. Hence, there is a need to pay attention to sleep to enhance our relationships with others and help us become more social.
Lack of sleep can be dangerous
It has been established that if we don’t have good sleep can be dangerous. For instance, being severely sleep-deprived is comparable to having consumed excess alcohol. Joe Leech (2022) in his article on sleep reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 1 in 25 people have fallen asleep at the wheel while driving. Those who slept fewer than 6 hours were most likely to fall asleep while driving.
This was further complemented in one study (Tefft BC, 2018) that found that people who slept 6, 5, 4, or fewer than 4 hours had a risk of causing a car accident that was 1.3, 1.9, 2.9, and 15.1 times higher, respectively. This study suggests that your risk of a car accident increases significantly with each hour of lost sleep.
Additionally, the CDC found that if we don’t sleep for more than 18 hours is similar to having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05%. After 24 hours, this increases to 1.00%, which is over the legal driving limit.
In a previous study, Hassani et al.(2015) found that lack of sleep may also increase the risk of workplace injury and errors. In a nutshell, having enough sleep is helpful for our safety.
Take Home
I have found that sleep is akin to paying attention to your diet and exercise. Hence, as you pay attention to a good diet, if you neglect sound sleep, you have done nothing. I have also found that our needs in sleeping differ. However, for sound sleep, studies recommend that you should get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night for optimal health. Failure to do this could predispose you to the many negative health implications associated: with heart disease, depression, weight gain, inflammation, and sickness.
The most interesting thing I also found is that if you sleep more than 9 hours too you are predisposing yourself to too many negative health issues. So don’t sleep less and don’t go overboard for 9 hours. This means latest by 10 pm one should go to bed. Those with a different work schedule should have a sleep pattern to meet their health needs.
NB:
Prof. Nyarkotey has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations to justify his write-ups. My articles are for educational purposes and do not serve as medical advice for Treatment. I aim to educate the public about evidence-based scientific Naturopathic Therapies.
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The Minister for Health has revealed that as many as 110 newly qualified doctors have accepted postings to deprived areas to bring healthcare delivery to the doorsteps of the rural folks in the various regions.
The Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Dormaa West Constituency in the Bono Region, Kweku Agyemang Manu, made this revelation in parliament, answering some urgent questions on measures the ministry is taking to ensure that doctors accept postings to deprived areas of the country.
Kweku Agyemang Manu indicated that the ministry has run a survey, out of which many recommendations have been made to include financial incentives for doctors who accept postings in deprived areas of the country.
He said this financial incentive will be based on the severe nature of the area of one’s posting.
A survey conducted by the government reveals that medical doctors are demanding 40 percent of basic salaries as an incentive allowance for acceptance of posting to deprived communities in the country.
This was revealed in a probe conducted by consultants of the Ministry of Health to identify the appropriate factors for the retention of medical doctors posted to rural areas.
The Ministry bemoans that out of 10 doctors posted to the Oti Region, only one reported to work.
Answering a question posed by the Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman Manu said the recommendations of the survey are under review for onward action.
“Mr. Speaker, a survey has been conducted to solicit the views of health workers on measures to attract and retain them to work in deprived areas. From the survey, the willingness of health workers to accept posting to any of the deprived areas is based on financial and non-financial incentives.”
“They recommended non-financial incentives such as scholarships, accommodation defined by existing policy, standard medical equipment, and transfer after 3 to 5 years upon request. Again, financial incentives include 34% basic salary as an incentive for mild deprived areas, 38% as basic allowance for moderate deprived areas, and 40% basic salary as incentive allowance for severely deprived areas.”
Doctors recruited from some of the poorest countries in the world to work in hospitals in the UK say they are facing exploitation and are so overworked they worry about putting patients’ health at risk.
A BBC investigation has found evidence that doctors from Nigeria are being targeted by a British healthcare company called NES Healthcare.
It found they are expected to work in private hospitals under conditions that are not allowed in the National Health Service – the UK’s publicly funded healthcare system.
NES Healthcare disputes the BBC findings and insists it provides a safe and supportive career route.
The company says feedback about doctors’ experiences with them is extremely positive.
But the British Medical Association has called some of the working conditions a disgrace to UK medicine.
While Major Jamie Lee Henry’s husband, Anna Gabrielian, is a Russian speakerconnected to Johns Hopkins Hospital, she also held secret security clearance.
They are accused of giving confidential information to a covert FBI agent acting as a member of the Russian Embassy.
The FBI discovered Gabrielian had offered his services to Russia through its embassy in Washington, according to the Justice Department.
It is alleged that Gabrielian met the undercover agent in a hotel room last month – and said: “she was motivated by patriotism toward Russia to provide any assistance she could to Russia, even if it meant being fired or going to jail”.
Gabrielian told the agent that she had reached out to the Russian Embassy by email and phone, offering Russia assistance from both her and her spouse Henry, the indictment says.
The indictment refers to Henry as male – but in 2015, they went public as thefirst openly transgender Army officer.
Marcia Murphy, a spokeswoman for the US attorney’s office in Baltimore, said Henry referred to himself as a male in interactions with the undercover FBI agent.
It is also alleged that Henry had looked into volunteering to join the Russian army after the conflict in Ukraine began, but Russia wanted people with combat experience and Henry did not have any.
“The way I am viewing what is going on in Ukraine now is that the United States is using Ukrainians as a proxy for their own hatred toward Russia,” Henry allegedly added.
Gabrielian did express concern about her children, demanding they have a “nice flight to Turkey to go on vacation because I don’t want to end in jail here with my kids being hostages over my head”.
On 31 August, the FBI agent met Gabrielian and Henry at a hotel in Maryland, near Washington DC.
Gabrielian gave the agent medical information about the spouse of a person employed by the Office of Naval Intelligence – and highlighted a medical issue that Russia could exploit, the indictment claims.
Henry allegedly provided information on at least five individuals who were patients at Fort Bragg, including a retired Army officer, a current Department of Defence employee, the spouse of a US Army veteran, and two spouses of deceased US Army veterans.
Court records say Gabrielian and Henry have been arrested – it was unclear whether they have lawyers.
Nigerian doctors have ended a nationwide strike that was called to protest against low pay and inadequate protective equipment.
The National Association of Resident Doctors (Nard), which represents some 40% of Nigeria’s doctors, said it called off the strike to give the government time to act on its demands.
The week-long strike ends on Monday morning, according to a statement quoted by local media. It had not affected medics treating coronavirus patients.
The association said some hospitals had since been supplied with protective gear and the government had promised to provide more.
It said the government had also promised to address their demand for better welfare for resident doctors.
The association said resident doctors who had been disengaged at Jos University Teaching Hospital had been reinstated and the chief medical director directed to pay their withheld salaries.
The Health Ministry has announced a special life insurance cover for the 10,000Â health personnel and allied professionals attending to COVID-19 pandemic response.
In a letter addressed by the Sector Minister, Kwaku Agyemang to all heads of the agencies within the sector, the government indicated that frontline staff involved in the COVID-19 response have been insured under benefits such as Group life cover with an assured sum of GHS 350, 000 per life.
Those who will attend to patients with critical illness have been assured a sum of GHS 25, 0000 per life, while those who will treat persons with any form of disability has been pegged at GHS 10,000 per life totalling a premium of GHS 10, 309,919.94.
“As a health professional and allied professionals at the frontline of the COVID 19 response, I seize the opportunity to thank you and your families sincerely for the sacrifice to this national challenge. The Gormvernnet of Ghana would like to communicate to the Heads of Agencies that the frontline staff involved in the response have been insured under the [above] cover.â€
“Please note that the Allied Professionals include all men and women who have been deployed to respond to COVID-19. Please bring this to the attention of all staff deployed and please ensure the appropriate documentation of the process which is strategic for the next stepsâ€, the statement added.
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has cancelled its intended industrial action, after holding talks with the government.
The health workers had given government up to February 29, 2020, to implement an already signed agreement on their conditions of service.
But the doctors and dentists have rescinded their decision after discussions between all parties.
The Association had earlier served notice that doctors in the country will embark on a strike if the government failed to immediately implement their signed Conditions of Service.
An internal memo sighted by Citi News directed all members to withdraw their services in all facilities if the government fails to meet their demands by January 29, 2020.
“The Association has accordingly given the government up to Saturday, 29th February 2020 to ensure full implementation (including payment of all occasioned arrears) of the CoS document at both the National and facility levels. If any default on the part of Government occurs Vis-à -vis the stated deadline, there shall be immediate withdrawal of all services by members in all facilities,†the memo warned.
The National Executive Committee of the Medical Association said it also observed that during the validation of February salaries, there was the absence of fuel allowance on the payslips of members; and urged members to put all discrepancies on notice for rectification.
The Association further vowed that the intended strike action by its members will only be called off if the government and the Health Ministry play their part in meeting their demands before the given deadline.
Doctors in Ghana have hinted of planned strike action if the government fails to implement its part of a signed Conditions of Service.
An internal memo issued by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) reportedly directed their members to withdraw their services in all public health facilities if their demands are not met by February 29, 2020.
Dated February 21, 2020, and jointly signed by President of GMA, Dr. Frank Ankobea and General Secretary, Dr. Justice Yankson, the memo said that although the implementation date for the signed Conditions of Service document was 1st January 2020 as agreed by all parties, government had failed to meet the deadline.
The internal memo warned that, “The Association has accordingly given the government up to Saturday, 29th February 2020 to ensure full implementation (including payment of all occasioned arrears) of the CoS document at both the National and facility levels. If any default on the part of Government occurs Vis-à -vis the stated deadline, there shall be an immediate withdrawal of all services by members in all facilities.â€
The National Executive Committee of the Medical Association said it also observed that during the validation of February salaries, there was the absence of fuel allowance on the payslips of members; and urged members to put all discrepancies on notice for rectification.
In separate letters addressed to the Ministers for Health, and Employment and Labour Relations, the Association expressed grave concern over the development.
Both letters said the Conditions of Service document implementation has not taken place both at the National and facility levels despite numerous calls on Government to do so.
The Medical Association thus requested for the immediate facilitation of the Ministers to forestall an industrial action.
Previous actions
In 2014, doctors and pharmacist in the West African country continued a 21-day strike action following a long-standing dispute over salary arrears.
Only emergency cases or patients admitted before the start of the strike received medical attention.
There may be labour unrest in the health sector soon as Medical Doctors and Dentists have served notice that they will embark on strike if the government fails to implement their signed Conditions of Service immediately.
A Ghana Medical Association (GMA) internal memo sighted by Citi News directed all members to withdraw all services in all facilities if the government fails to meet their demands by January 29, 2020.
The internal memo, dated February 21, 2020, and jointly signed by President of GMA, Dr. Frank Ankobea and General Secretary, Dr. Justice Yankson said that although the implementation date for the signed Conditions of Service document was 1st January 2020 as agreed by all parties, government had failed to meet the deadline.
“The Association has accordingly given the government up to Saturday, 29th February 2020 to ensure full implementation (including payment of all occasioned arrears) of the CoS document at both the National and facility levels. If any default on the part of Government occurs Vis-à -vis the stated deadline, there shall be immediate withdrawal of all services by members in all facilities,†the internal memo warned.
The National Executive Committee of the Medical Association said it also observed that during the validation of February salaries, there was the absence of fuel allowance on the payslips of members; and urged members to put all discrepancies on notice for rectification.
In separate letters addressed to the Ministers for Health, and Employment and Labour Relations, the Association expressed grave concern over the development.
Both letters said the Conditions of Service document implementation has not taken place both at the National and facility levels despite numerous calls on Government to do so.
The Medical Association thus requested for the immediate facilitation of the Ministers to forestall an industrial action.
Previous strikes to demand codified conditions of service
The Ghana Medical Association in July 2015 embarked on a 3-week strike over the absence of a codified condition of service.
They were demanding a signed document detailing a number of entitlements to be given to them as part of their conditions of service.
Part of their demands included 40% of basic salaries as accommodation allowance per month, 20 percent as core duty facilitation allowance, 30% clothing allowance, 20% maintenance allowance, 20% utility allowance, 50% as professional allowance and 25% special risk allowance and vehicle tax exemption to doctors.
They called off the strike to return to the negotiation table after several appeals from many Ghanaians including members of the clergy.
The Conditions of Service was finally signed between the association and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission in November 2019.
Doctors at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital have successfully performed kidney transplantation for four patients diagnosed with kidney failure. The transplant team was led by surgeons; Dr. Bernard Morton and Dr. James Edward Mensah and kidney specialists, Dr. Vincent Bioma and Dr. Dwomoa from the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
A press release from the hospital dated December 10, 2019, indicated that the procedure was successful and the patients; three males and a female are currently in good health conditions.
The donor of the kidney for each transplant was a healthy family member. Kidney failure is the situation whereby the kidney fails to perform its function of getting rid of toxins from the body. According to the Dialysis Service Foundation, an average of 12,000 kidney failure cases are detected among Ghanaian patients annually.
The condition is on the rise in Ghana. A research conducted by the School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD) of the University of Ghana (UG) and the Noguchi Memorial Institute indicated that 25% of Ghanaians are likely to suffer kidney diseases.
The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in partnership with the Transplant Links team, since 2008, has conducted a number of kidney transplantation on patients. The recent transplantation on the four patients was funded by the First Sky Group.
Find below the Press Release from Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital
KORLE BU PERFORMS FOUR SUCCESSFUL KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATIONS
Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in collaboration with Transplant Links UK has performed Kidney transplantation for four patients with kidney failures.
The patients who included three males and a female are currently doing well. For each transplant, the donor of the kidney was a healthy family member. This gives the person who receives the donated kidney the chance to return to a normal life away from a kidney dialysis machine.
The donor operation is carried out through a keyhole surgery technique, which means that they do not have to spend long hours in hospital after the operation. Each donor is assessed before the operation to make sure that they are fit and well, and able to safely donate one of their kidneys. The donated kidney is then implanted into the relative with kidney failure, who has to take medications to prevent rejection.
Kidney failure is common in Ghana, and is often caused by high blood pressure or diabetes. Without a transplant, a patient with end-stage kidney failure must rely on many hours of kidney dialysis per week to survive.
The Transplant Links team have worked with the Korle Bu Hospital since 2008 and many patients have already benefited.
The First Sky Group fully funded the accommodation, feeding and airfare of the transplant team from UK. First Sky Group has since December 2016, donated 11 million and a brand-new Toyota Hilux pickup to the Renal Dialysis Unit. This donation has benefited thousands of patients receiving free dialysis every week.
The transplant team at KBTH was led by surgeons Dr. Bernard Morton and Dr. James Edward Mensah and kidney specialists, Dr. Vincent Bioma and Dr. Dwomoa Adu.
The Chief Executive of the Hospital, Dr. Daniel Asare who revived the kidney transplant programme said the objective of the revival was to build local capacity so that kidney transplant becomes a routine procedure that our surgeons perform.
