Minority criticises decision to withhold doctors' certificates

The Minority in Parliament on Monday criticised the Ministry of Health for its decision to withhold the certificates of new doctors from the country's medical schools as a means of stemming the exodus of young doctors.

In a statement signed by Mr Alban Bagbin, the Minority Leader, they described the decision as "shocking" and "a clear violation of the rights of graduates" and said it must be rescinded immediately.

"The decision is desperate and ad hoc and smacks of an admission of an administration that appears overwhelmed by the challenges of governing.

"The Minority advises the government to deal with the systematic causes of the exodus of doctors and other professionals, rather than just attacking the symptoms."

Mr Moses Dani Baah, Deputy Minister of Health, said at the weekend at Tamale that the ministry would as from next year withhold certificates of new graduates from the medical schools for three years, to stem the exodus of young doctors in search for greener pastures,

He said this would also enable new doctors to pursue post-graduate course at the medical schools.

The Minority's statement said it was sad that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that made "a campaign issue of access to health care and promised so many miracles in the health sector, almost one year into its term, has failed to deliver and has instead resorted to holding medical graduates hostage."