By: Sarah Baafi
Actor Oscar Provencal has welcomed the move by the Ministry of Health to secure financial clearance for rotation nurses and house officers, describing it as a major step toward addressing challenges in Ghana’s health sector.
Speaking during a panel discussion on the GTV Breakfast Show, Provencal noted that many nurses in the country work under enormous pressure, often dealing with financial difficulties that affect their morale and performance.
According to him, the harsh economic realities facing young health professionals cannot be ignored, and he stressed that many nurses struggle to make ends meet in a system where most services operate on a cash-and-carry basis.
He said that while some patients complain about poor attitudes from nurses at health facilities, the issue must be viewed within the broader context of the heavy workload and financial stress confronting health workers.
He also explained that nurses are human beings with personal responsibilities and should not be expected to work purely out of sacrifice without adequate compensation.
“Sometimes people say nursing is a sacrificial job driven only by passion, but ultimately nurses also have lives to live and responsibilities to meet,” he said.
Provencal further pointed to the growing brain drain in the health sector, noting that many Ghanaian nurses are seeking better opportunities abroad due to the high global demand for their services.
He stressed that improving conditions of service and providing competitive incentives are critical to retaining skilled nurses in the country.
The actor also highlighted the strain caused by staffing shortages in hospitals, explaining that while the recommended ratio is about one nurse to four patients, some nurses in Ghana attend to as many as twenty-two patients or more, a situation he described as overwhelming.
Provencal therefore urged authorities to build on the financial clearance granted to rotation nurses and house officers by introducing additional measures that will improve morale and strengthen healthcare delivery.
He emphasized that investing in the welfare of nurses is essential because healthcare decisions often involve matters of life and death.
