By Amoako Kwame
The Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has warned that compelling new doctors into rural postings without proper stakeholder engagement could push them to private hospitals.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on February 23, he stated that the private sector of the health industry is prepared to take in the newly graduated doctors
“As the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) rep said, we have to look at it dispassionately, I operate private facilities, and I can tell you, there are a lot of offers for some of these young doctors.” He said
The legislator further explained the conditions some doctors face leading them to leave the public health system
“They are not making any extra money in the places you have put them, but they do because they want to take care of our folks, they have to go, I mean, beyond all means, to find money to buy blood, to do other essential things for the patient. It becomes easier for the private sector in the urban centres to absorb them, and that will give them a lot of other advantages.” He added
He also warned against the giving of ultimatums referencing the recent warnings from the health minister to newly posted doctors
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, warned that new doctors who refuse postings to rural areas risk being removed from the government payroll by the end of February 2026.
