Health Ministry to withhold certificates of new doctors

The Ministry of Health says it will, effective next year, withhold certificates of new graduates from the medical schools for three years. The decision is to stem the exodus of young doctors in search of greener pastures. The new doctors who expressed the view that it will not in any way stop the exodus have challenged the decision.

The Ministry says the decision is also to enable the new doctors to pursue post-graduate course at the country’s medical schools, deputy Minister of Health, Moses Dani Baah said when he launched the Standard Treatment Guidelines, a document produced by the medical experts to help guide personnel in the health sector to provide quality service at Tamale in the Northern Region.

The deputy Minister also announced special incentive package for doctors in the three Northern Regions to encourage more doctors to accept postings to the regions. The three northern regions remain a no-go-area for all professionals, teachers inclusive due to the poor nature of facilities there.

The ministries of Health, Local Government and Rural Development and Works and Housing are combining resources to provide potable water for communities, endemic with guinea worm, and to attract more professionals to the regions.