The Ghana Physician Assistants Association (GPAA) is concerned that despite its members’ efforts to address the acute shortage of medical doctors in the country, members have limited opportunities to widen their expertise.
GPAA said for over 60 years successive governments have failed to create educational advancement pathways or opportunities for its members to widen their expertise in their bid to provide universal healthcare in the country.
It said “once a trained Physician Assistant, one remains a Physician Assistant for life, without any opportunity to widen his or her expertise by way of specialization within the profession.”
The situation, the association said is a cause for concern as members do not want to continue to pass through such frustrations. This came to light at the association’s 18th Annual General Conference held at Cape Coast in the Central Region.
“Sixty (60) years after the mounting of this essential programme to address the acute shortage of medical doctors at the primary healthcare level of Ghana’s health delivery system, there has not been any effort by the government of Ghana represented by the Ministry of Health (MoH) to initiate policy changes which could have led to clear career progression pathways for the Physician Assistant cadre. Once a trained PA, one remains a PA for life, without any opportunity to widen his or her expertise by way of specialization Within the profession.”
It added that its members want the Ministry of Health and other key stakeholders “to spearhead the introduction of specialties such as Basic/Minor Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Public Health, Emergency Medicine, etc. for the practising Physician Assistants.”
This year’s conference was held under the theme: “Career Progression And Protection For The PA, Your Role, My Role And Our Role In The Attainment Of Universal Health Coverage”.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Moses Apiah|Ghana
