327 doctors, dentists inducted
Medical practioners have been asked to remember their oath and serve people with diligence, integrity, dedication and respect, Mr Kweku Agyeman-Manu has stated.
He said the media in recent times had been filled with news about the negligence, improper behaviour and poor conduct of some health professionals.
The Minister said this in a speech read on his behalf by his Chief Director, Mr Kwabena Boadu Oku-Afari, at the induction of 327 doctors and dentists in Accra yesterday.
He urged the new medical doctors and dentists to “remember the oath that you have taken today, the pre-induction lectures and serve people with diligence, integrity, dedication and respect”.
“The very people who openly swore and committed themselves to serve us in our most vulnerable state tend to become abusers,” he said.
He reminded all health professionals about expectations, attitudes and conducts of health care professionals, saying society accords health care professionals with high regards and expects a corresponding high standard of professionalism and conduct.
He said the Health professions regulatory Act was to secure in the public interest the highest standards in the training and practice of medicine and dentistry in Ghana.
The minister said the specialised knowledge and success of health care professionals “if not properly managed results in bloated egos or inconsiderate conducts and may make one lose one’s humanity”.
“A number of policy guidelines including the practitioners appropriate professional apparel policy had been developed to enforce professional standards for easy identification of professionals working in the various health care centers,” he added.
He said the specialists register was also to ensure that practitioners did not involve themselves in practices outside their areas of competences and to ensure patients were sufficiently protected.
Mr Agyeman-Manu called for the support of stakeholders to advance the quality of medical training and practice for the collective good of all.
He assured of the government’s commitment to ensuring that Ghanaians had access to quality health care services through the National Health Insurance Scheme and the provision of health center.
The Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council, Dr Divine N. Banyubala, said the induction signified the transition from students to professionals and put the greatest responsibility of the care of patients in their hands as they take up the role as frontline medical professionals.
He said council was committed towards promoting and protecting public health, safety and well being to maintain public confidence in the health care system.
Dr Banyubala said the council would enforce standards for all registered practitioners, adding that they would continue to monitor and track the performance of the new doctors and dentists during their housemanship.
He urged them to execute their duties with integrity and respect for humanity.
The Board Chairman of the Medical and Dental Council, Professor P.K. Nyame urged the government to expand intake infrastructure for training institutions to enable them to admit more students.
He said the new intake would augment the existing 11,000 medical practitioners in Ghana.
BY ANITA NYARKO YIRENKYI
