The General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr Richard Selormey, has attributed the high rate of emigration of health professionals to the country’s economic situation.
According to him, the current state of the economy coupled with the depreciating currency has become a disincentive to many health workers to remain in Ghana.
Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, Dr Selormey highlighted the disparity between the hard work of healthcare professionals and the meagre salaries and allowances they receive.
He noted that these financial constraints are pushing many to seek better opportunities abroad.
“The general economic situation discourages health professionals because, regardless of how much they earn, the average doctor cannot even afford to walk into a showroom to buy a car, let alone purchase a house.”
He emphasised that this financial strain has left many health professionals questioning the value of their service to the nation.
“People are asking themselves, ‘After serving this country, what do I gain? How do I sustain myself if my salary can’t even get me a home?’ This is a key reason why we are losing so many professionals to other countries.”
Dr Selormey also touched on the additional burden of healthcare costs that many workers face, often having to pay out of pocket for their own medical care, sometimes in the very hospitals where they work.
He urged the government to implement measures to alleviate these costs, noting that the (GMA) Ghana Medical Association has often had to step in to assist its members.
Addressing the ongoing delays in the implementation of the rural incentive package, Dr Selormey expressed frustration that a comprehensive plan to motivate health workers in rural areas has been stalled in the cabinet for an extended period.
The package includes both financial incentives and non-financial benefits such as out-of-turn promotions and sponsorships for postgraduate training.
“We’ve done the work, we have put together the budget for it, and we’ve pushed for its implementation, but progress has been slow. While some non-financial aspects have seen some movement, the broader package has not yet been fully realized,” he said.
Dr Selormey concluded by stressing that the underlying issue is the overall economic situation, which makes it difficult for salaries to cover basic living expenses. Until this is addressed, he warned, Ghana will continue to lose its healthcare professionals to countries offering better financial prospects.
Source: Mavis Sekyibea Addo
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