Second year of doctors' houseman ship to count as National Service

Accra, March 21, GNA - Medical practitioners will henceforth have the second year of their housemanship as National Service. This is in line with the policy adopted by the Ministry of Health to place all health graduates on the National Service Scheme. It is also in consonance with the National Service Act, Act 426 (1980), which mandates all Ghanaians of 18 years and above to undertake a year's national service on completion of their tertiary education.

Others are specialists, medical assistants/community oral health officers and nurse anesthetists. Under the guidelines for the Ghana Medical and Dental Council, the Council will compile and submit updated list of accredited health facilities for housemanship to the Ministry of Health and National Service Secretariat.

Meanwhile, final year students will register with NSS via the online Registration systems. The guidelines said final examination results shall be submitted to the Ghana Medical and Dental Council from the Medical Schools and the Rural Health Training School, Kintampo, while the Teaching Hospitals shall hold interviews at the instance of Council to select housemanship sites of House Officers. According to the guidelines, 93the MOH shall seek financial clearance for the house officer from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and top-up of allowances of house officers and medical assistants who will accept posting to deprived areas." "NSS stipend and allowances shall cease on completion of internship and shall be replaced by salaries on assumption of duty with an agency."

According to the guidelines the council shall submit the lists of house officers who successfully complete housemanship to NSS to be issued with certificates.