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The seasonal brain-drain of medical officers coupled with the lack of medical doctors in various districts in the country has taken centre stage on the delivery of healthcare services in the country following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A senior medical officer at the Prof. Quarm Hospital, Dr. Felix Owusu, has revealed that the situation may persist until government rethink the incentives of medical officers.

He made the admonishment during a free surgery exercise sponsored by the former lawmaker of the Manso Nkwanta Constituency, Joseph Albert Quarm.

According to the medical officer, it is important government prioritisee the health needs of citizens in deprived communities.

“People in the rural areas need healthcare most because they are the most deprived ones. Healthcare services should be brought closer to those in the deprived areas.

“Generally in Ghana, working in a village is like a sacrifice and when you are posted there you decide to stay or not. So we have to put measures in place to motivate and attract medical officers to work in the rural areas. Everyone wants better conditions of service. So government should come out with a more effective way to fight the immigration of health workers out of the country. Whoever works at the rural areas and whoever works at the cities, the payment of salaries is the same.”

He further noted the welfare of doctors should be improved especially during retirement.

“It is not ethical to go overseas when your people need you but we don’t consider what goes into doctors remuneration when they become disabled or go on retirement. We have seasoned doctors who are on retirement now and nobody recognizes them,” he bemoaned.

On the back of the free annual surgery, the CEO of the Prof. Quarm Hospital, Joseph Albert Quarm, revealed the kind gesture is aimed at assisting the vulnerable who are suffering from hernia, goitre and other medical conditions whose treatment are expensive.

“We give glory to God for the impact this hospital has given to the people of Manso Nkwanta, Ashanti region and beyond. This exercise is undertaken annually and for this year we have treated close to a thousand patients who came from all parts of the country with others coming from Nigeria, Sierra Leone and other countries with different medical conditions.

“When given the needed support from government, non governmental organizations and other philanthropists, we hope to expand the hospital facility for the benefit of all citizens in the country,” he said.

By Issah Zakaria|AkomaFM|Onuaonline.com