The latest Ghana Human Development Report has issued a stark warning about the country’s healthcare system, highlighting the critical issue of the mass exodus of trained doctors and nurses.
Titled “The Future Value of Work in Ghana,” the report, authored by the United Nations Development Program in collaboration with the Statistical Service and the National Development Planning Commission, identifies the emigration of healthcare professionals as a severe threat to Ghana’s health sector stability.
According to the report, the situation is dire: 50 percent of doctors and 24 percent of nurses trained in Ghana have left the country, primarily due to poor working conditions. This exodus, it warns, could lead to a further deterioration of the healthcare system if immediate measures are not implemented.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana’s healthcare system showed resilience in handling emergencies, but it also exposed significant weaknesses, such as shortages of essential supplies like personal protective equipment (PPE) and a critical shortage of qualified personnel exacerbated by emigration.
The report emphasizes the urgent need for policy interventions and pragmatic measures to prevent a complete collapse of the healthcare sector. It calls for strengthened health policies addressing crucial areas such as health promotion, palliative and rehabilitative care, which lag behind preventive and curative care.
“Ghana is at a pivotal stage where robust health promotion initiatives are essential for advancing primary healthcare and addressing environmental health issues,” the report states. It advocates for a life course approach to healthcare delivery to cater to diverse populations, including the elderly, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups in urban areas.
In response to the evolving health needs exacerbated by factors like environmental challenges, demographic shifts, and changing lifestyles, the report underscores the importance of adaptive healthcare systems capable of meeting these challenges.
The document urges the government and stakeholders to prioritize and implement the strategies outlined in the report to safeguard and enhance Ghana’s healthcare system. It stresses that addressing the root causes of healthcare professional emigration, such as improving working conditions and enhancing career prospects, is crucial for retaining and attracting skilled health workers.