…after milking over $40m from them, amid critical need for practitioners
By Innocent Appiah
An investigative report spanning several months has brought to light concerning practices within Ghana’s medical licensing system, resulting in the sidelining of hundreds of foreign-trained doctors amid critical healthcare shortages in the nation.
Uncovered records and testimonies have unveiled a complex web of bureaucratic obstacles and alleged irregularities at the Medical and Dental Council (MDC) that have prevented over 800 foreign-trained medical professionals from practicing, despite an estimated collective investment of $40 million in their education.
Dr. James Kobby Mensah, a graduate of medical training in Ukraine in 2020, shared his frustration from his family’s pharmacy where he now works.
“Five years later, I am still unable to practice medicine. We undergo examinations with no feedback, pay additional fees each time, and see no end in sight.” While local doctors typically begin practicing shortly after graduation, foreign-trained professionals face significant delays averaging 3-7 years, with some waiting over a decade, as revealed by internal documents.
An unnamed member of the Parliamentary-Select Committee on Health expressed serious concerns about the findings, citing resource wastage, potential systemic discrimination, and the loss of trained professionals to other countries, leaving rural areas underserved.
Former World Health Organization consultant Dr. Anthony Kwame Afrifa highlighted the critical doctor-to-patient ratio in Ghana, emphasizing the vast potential of utilizing foreign-trained talents to address healthcare shortages and underscoring the need for reforms.
The investigation laid bare instances where qualified professionals faced registration delays despite completing required assessments, hinting at an opaque and seemingly obstructive system at the MDC.
Financial burdens persist for foreign-trained doctors, with reports of exorbitant costs for examinations and registration fees, escalating with each rejection, and rumors of unofficial payments to grease the wheels of bureaucracy.
The impact on healthcare delivery is stark, with significant staffing gaps in rural health facilities, districts lacking permanent medical doctors, and persistently high maternal mortality rates in underserved areas, painting a grim picture of the consequences of these barriers.
Neighboring countries like Nigeria and Senegal offer more streamlined processes for integrating foreign-trained doctors, allowing for faster registration times, clear feedback mechanisms, and structured integration programs, underscoring the potential benefits of embracing foreign-trained talent.
Economic analysts estimate substantial costs stemming from lost productivity, brain drain, and scholarship wastage, further emphasizing the urgent need for reform to maximize the country’s investment in medical education and address critical healthcare needs.
The personal toll on foreign-trained doctors is profound, with individuals sharing stories of financial strain, dashed dreams, and emotional distress due to the systemic barriers obstructing their professional pursuits, highlighting the human cost of the crisis.
Calls for reform echo demands for transparent assessment criteria, appeals processes, integration support programs, and reasonable registration timeframes to foster the seamless integration of foreign-trained doctors into the healthcare system and harness their expertise to benefit the nation.
The urgent need for decisive action to dismantle these barriers is clear, with the future of Ghana’s healthcare system dependent on swift, comprehensive reforms to unlock the full potential of foreign-trained professionals and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare services.
