Medical School to train family doctors

Accra, April 25, GNA - An academic department to train family doctors at the post-graduate level has been instituted at the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS).

Dr. Edward Narh, Director the Narh-Bita Hospital in Tema, said the new chair would facilitate the training of family physicians locally. Family medicine, which used to be known as General Practice (GP) medicine, is a specialisation that provides, among other services, first level medical care in a holistic and comprehensive way to patients, irrespective of age, sex, gender and organ-system, within the context of families and immediate environments.

The Medical School currently offers specialist training in Public Health, Paediatrics, Internal Medicine, Laboratory Medicine and Psychiatry. The Narh-Bita Hospital in Tema two years ago became the first institution to be accredited by the West African College of Physicians (WACP) to train doctors in family medicine at the post-graduate level.

It has so far trained four doctors who have passed two of the primary examinations conducted by the WACP. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tema, Dr. Narh, one of the few family doctors in Ghana, said a fund-raising dinner would be held in Accra on Saturday, April 29, for the takeoff of the new department at the UGMS.

Dr. Narh said recent developments in health care provision had renewed interest in Family Medicine and efforts were being made to train competent family physicians.

He said Nigeria was the first West African country to begin such a programme in 1980 with assistance from the Ford Foundation and the British Royal College of General Practice.

"Unfortunately, attempts made in Ghana since 1989 have not been successful due to several constraints, principal of which is funding." In 1999, a consultant was engaged to help expedite the creation of the academic chair at Korle Bu in Family Medicine.

Dr. Narh said about 48,000 dollars would be needed this year to recruit personnel, run offices and to purchase journals and books for the successful takeoff of the programme.

Dr. Narh said the faculty would raise 30 per cent of the amount through its own efforts, and called on non-governmental organisations, institutions and individuals to help raise the remaining 70 per cent for effective takeoff of the programme.

He said in the near future, "a qualification in this area of speciality may be a prerequisite to enter into private medical practice". He appealed to the public to contribute generously towards the venture for the promotion of good health care service in the country.

Dr. Narh said donations in cash and cheques should be sent to the West African College of Physicians, care of Head of Department of Medicine, Korle-Bu.