The Bono Region of Ghana is experiencing a significant shortage of doctors, with only seven of the 20 doctors posted to the region reporting for duty. This revelation was made by Deputy Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah during a courtesy call on the Bono Regional Coordinating Council (RCC). The region's healthcare sector is facing challenges in attracting and retaining medical personnel.
According to Prof. Ayensu-Danquah, inadequate accommodation is a major obstacle preventing health professionals from taking up postings and remaining in the region. She called for closer collaboration between health authorities and the RCC to tackle the challenges affecting the availability of medical personnel. The Deputy Minister was accompanied on the visit by the Chief Executive Officer of Sunyani Teaching Hospital, Dr. Cardinal Newton.
The doctor shortfall in the Bono Region means fewer hands to attend to patients across hospitals and clinics, which could translate into longer waiting times, heavier workloads for the few doctors present, and reduced access to specialist care for residents. Rural and regional postings have long been a challenge for Ghana's health sector, with many newly qualified doctors reportedly preferring urban centres such as Accra and Kumasi.
Bono Regional Minister Joseph Addae Akwaboa assured the delegation of the RCC's commitment to supporting the health sector. He pledged to work with the relevant authorities to provide assistance within the RCC's capacity to address the challenges confronting healthcare delivery in the region. The RCC plays a crucial role in coordinating development and administrative activities across the districts within a region in Ghana.
The Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) is a body responsible for coordinating development and administrative activities across the districts within a region in Ghana, working with the Regional Minister to support local government functions, including areas such as health infrastructure and resource mobilisation. The RCC's support is essential in addressing the healthcare challenges in the Bono Region.
Prof. Ayensu-Danquah appealed to the RCC to help mobilise funding and other resources to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve the quality of services available to residents in the region. The Deputy Minister's visit aimed to engage with the RCC and other stakeholders to find solutions to the healthcare challenges in the region.
The situation in the Bono Region highlights the need for the Ministry of Health to address the accommodation shortage and other challenges that deter health professionals from taking up postings in rural and regional areas. The Ministry's response to the crisis and its plans to address the shortage of doctors in the region remain to be seen.
Key points
- Only 7 of 20 doctors posted to Ghana's Bono Region have reported for duty.
- Inadequate accommodation is a major obstacle to attracting and retaining health professionals in the region.
- The Regional Coordinating Council has pledged to support the health sector in addressing the challenges confronting healthcare delivery in the region.
