By: Mercy Darko
Government has commended the Medical and Dental Council for taking steps to define clear boundaries to address Reports of Clinical negligence and the proliferation of quack Doctors in Medical and Dental practices.
Addressing the Medical and Dental Council Conference in Accra, Vice President Bawumia said Government has approved a proposal for a One- point- five Million Dollar $1.5m funding from the World Bank, for investment into Quality Assurance for Health Care Delivery.
He said Government’s Agenda 111, where every District will see the establishment of a District Hospital will further enhance health delivery in the country.
He also indicated that Cabinet has also approved the suggested amendment of the Health Professions Regulatory Body (Act 2013) and this will be laid before Parliament soon.
The Medical and Dental Council which is focused on ensuring public health, safety, and well-being also aims to promote and maintain public trust in health professionals. With over 10 thousand medical doctors and 6 medical staff, the council has to ensure that qualified medical and dental professionals are churned.
Outlining some investments made in the health sector such as the delivery of essential medicines via drone, the one district one ambulance, improving the NHIS, and the agenda 111, Vice President Bawumia said government is worried about reports of clinical negligence which has resulted in dire consequences for the public.
He entreated the council to continue to put in place measures to nib the problem in the bad while government also provides the need investment for the sector. He charged the council to also explore the use of technology to improve health care delivery.
Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman Manu touched also spoke about the move to establish and equip medical training centers across the country.
In a welcome address, registrar of the Medical and Dental Council, Dr. Divine Ndonbi Banyubala bemoaned the uneven district of medical practioners across the country. He noted that only Ashanti and Greater Accra have about 83 percent of registered senior professionals making other regions deficient.
He spoke about other challenges and the way forward for the Council.
Speaking of the theme, Medical Training and Practice in Ghana, the past, present and future, Chairman of the Medical and Dental Council, Dr. Paul Kwame Nyame called on government to invest to equip medical schools in the country to save it from spending resources to train doctors abroad. He also touched on leveraging technology to enhance healthcare delivery.
The conference which also marks the golden Jubilee of the Medical and Dental Council will create a platform for members to discuss issues on boosting local production of general duty and specialist doctors and dentists. It will also look at current challenges with medical education and training.