The Ministry of Health has dismissed claims that Ghana is training medical doctors and subsequently abandoning them due to delays in recruitment and employment.
The Ministry says established procedures are in place to ensure a smooth transition of newly qualified medical doctors and dentists from housemanship into permanent employment.
In a statement issued on Thursday, November 5, the Ministry acknowledged public concerns and media scrutiny over the issue but urged the public to rely on accurate information and a proper understanding of the processes involved.
It explained that the recruitment and posting of house officers are jointly undertaken by the Medical and Dental Council and the Ministry of Health.
According to the Ministry, three batches of medical doctors have commenced their housemanship in 2026 at different times, depending on their respective graduation dates and completion of the required processes.
It further clarified that housemanship is a structured, mandatory two-year practical training programme designed to equip newly qualified doctors and dentists with the necessary clinical experience before transitioning into permanent employment. The first year of the programme is undertaken at secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities, while the second year provides trainees with practical exposure at the district level.
The Ministry stressed that financial clearance for the entire two-year housemanship programme is obtained before the commencement of the first year, meaning doctors are not required to secure separate financial clearance to progress into the second year.
On permanent employment, the Ministry disclosed that it has established a procedure in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance to facilitate the immediate transition of doctors and dentists into permanent employment after completing their second year of housemanship.
It said the process is intended to prevent unnecessary delays between the completion of mandatory training and permanent employment.
The Ministry revealed that it is currently recruiting the 36th batch of medical officers and dentists and is preparing to commence recruitment for the 37th batch, whose members have recently obtained permanent registration from the Medical and Dental Council of Ghana.
It also identified the assessment of actual vacancies before recruitment as a major improvement in its current approach. The Ministry said it works with relevant agencies to assess staffing gaps across health facilities and declare vacancies for qualified and eligible doctors and dentists to apply.
This, it explained, ensures that recruitment and placement are guided by identified vacancies and approved staffing requirements rather than indiscriminate postings without consideration of the needs of health facilities.
It further maintained that medical education and housemanship in Ghana are well regulated, with the Medical and Dental Council responsible for enforcing accreditation requirements for medical schools and overseeing the registration and regulation of medical and dental practitioners.
The Ministry said its commitment goes beyond increasing the number of doctors trained to ensuring sustainable recruitment, equitable distribution, deployment and retention of medical professionals across the country.
It added that it will continue working with the Ministry of Finance, the Medical and Dental Council and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that Ghana’s investment in medical education translates into improved healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved and deprived communities.
The Ministry has therefore urged the public and media practitioners to interrogate the facts before drawing conclusions, stressing that constructive criticism must be informed by accurate information and a proper understanding of the systems and processes involved.
Source: Abigail Ekua Arhin
