The Ghana Physician Assistants Association (GPAA) has noted with concern that despite the shortage of Physician Assistants (PAs) at various health facilities, the Ministry of Health is reluctant in employing some 800 Physician Assistants who are currently at home after completing their internship.
According to the Association, it cannot fathom government’s failure to employ its members despite opening portals twice for other healthcare professionals within the year 2021.
The attitude by the Ministry, it said, is affecting health service delivery at the primary healthcare level.
Speaking on A1 Radio regarding the situation, the Upper East Regional Chairman of the Association, Mr. Peter Ayamba Akudugu, noted that for over 60 years, successive governments have failed to create career pathways or progression for Physician Assistants in the country to widen their expertise in providing universal healthcare.
“There is a high level of Physician Assistants’ unemployment in the country yet there are huge numbers of qualified Physician Assistants that have not been given financial clearance by the Ministry of Finance. In 2021 alone, portals have been opened twice for other healthcare professionals. What does that mean? It means that Physician Assistant has conveniently been sidelined by the Ministries of Health and Finance. It is bad because it affects health service delivery at the primary healthcare level and can derail our progress in the attainment of Universal Health Coverage as a country.”
The Chairman, however, added that they (Members of GPAA) have given the Ministry of Health a six-month ultimatum to invite stakeholders and initiate efforts at establishing the PAs Council and career pathways for the PAs, else they will advise themselves.
“The Ministry of Health should within 6 months direct its implementing agencies such as the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) to officially appoint Physician Assistants as Sub- District Heads. Commensurate remunerations should be attached to such a position. This should not be delayed any further than the timeline stated. The sub-district system has been neglected for far too long.”
Source:A1radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Moses Apiah|Ghana
