GRi in Parliament 06 – 11 - 2002
Accra (Greater Accra)
06 November 2002-The Ministry of Health has planned incentive
Packages, including a
vehicle scheme to motivate health professionals to stay and work in the
country.
The government has
already granted approval for a vehicle revolving fund to be established for
health professionals to stem the mass exodus of personnel, especially medical
Doctors, qualified Nurses and laboratory technicians.
Mr Moses Dani Baah,
Deputy Minister of Health said this on Tuesday in an answer to a question asked
by Mr Emmanuel Acheampong, NPP-Gomoa East on behalf of Mr Stephen Adoma-
Yeboah, NPP- Dormaa East.
The Member asked what
steps the ministry was taking to arrest the alarming mass exodus of health
personnel, especially medical Doctors, qualified nurses and laboratory
technicians.
Mr Baah said the
ministry was currently providing infrastructure and equipment to improve health
care delivery at the various health facilities while a number of discussions
have taken place with government with a view of improving the salaries of
health professionals.
He said the ministry
has identified some of the causes of the exodus of the professionals as low
wages, lack of decent accommodation and transport, among others and to address
this, the ministry was adopting multi-pronged approach to solve the problem.
Mr Acheampong asked
whether the incentives included housing and the minister said the ministry was
thinking of providing soft loans for the health personnel to own houses. Mr.
Nii Adu Mante, NPP-Klottey-Korle asked whether in view of the pressing need for
accommodation for medical staff the ministry had any plans to rehabilitate the Nkrumah
Flats for their use.
The Minister said the
policy was to develop additional houses for the health personnel but it would
liaise with the Ministry of Works and Housing concerning the flats. Mr Norbert
Awulley, NDC- Builsa South asked the minister the nature of the vehicle fund
and the minister said it was to be on hire purchase to be deducted from the
salaries and the arrangement would soon be advertised for pre-qualification of
suppliers.
Mr. Joseph
Darko-Mensah, NPP- Okaikoi North asked what the ministry's plan was to train
additional health personnel to sustain the sector and the Minister said all
health training institutions have been advised to increase their intake to make
up for the exodus.
Mr Enoch Teye Mensah,
NDC-Ningo/Prampram asked about the other forms of incentives for the health
personnel and the Minister said other forms of incentives are being considered
in consultation with representatives of the workers alongside post-graduate
training courses.
Dr Benjamin Kunbuor,
NDC- Lawra/Nandom said since most of the political parties in their manifestoes
had strategies to retain health personnel, which of them was the minister going
to adopt to save the situation and the Minister asked for a notice.
Prince Oduro-Mensah,
NPP-Techiman South asked whether there were proposals to make District
Assemblies to sponsor health personnel to serve in their areas, the Minister
said most of the Assemblies are being encouraged to sponsor the training of
Community Health Nurses.
Mr. Joe Gidisu, NDC-
North Tongu asked whether the minister was aware that one of the reasons was of
the frustrations of promotion for the personnel and the minister said the Ghana
Health Service was to ensure that the anomalies were rectified.
GRi…/
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