Don't Leave - Andam to Doctors

Kumasi, Aug. 12, GNA - Medical doctors have been admonished to refrain from leaving the country after their training to seek greener pastures abroad since the practice thwarted efforts to enhance health care delivery in the country.

Professor Kwesi Andam, Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), who made the call, reminded them to abide by the Hippocratic Oath and resolve to stay in the country to contribute to the development of the health sector. He expressed concern that even though the country produces barely 200 doctors a year, most of them left for greener pastures abroad, saying, this practice does not augur well for an accelerated national development.

Prof. Andam was speaking at the opening of a three-day conference of the Ghana Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship (GCMDF) in Kumasi on Friday under the theme, "Equity in Health Care Delivery". He said a survey by the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about 62 per cent of health workers intend to leave the country for greener pastures abroad was not only alarming but also inimical to the effective delivery of health care in the country. The Vice-Chancellor also expressed dissatisfaction about the fact that more and more doctors were moving from the rural areas to urban areas to practise.

This, he said, exacerbates the problem of access to health care and brings out inequity in the delivery of health services around the country.

Prof Andam called on stakeholders in the health sector to strive and reflect on this development with the view to find and implement suitable solutions to the problem. Dr Pius Agbenorku, National President of GCMDF, entreated members of the fellowship to remain focused towards the fellowship's activities and endeavour to shun arrogance.