THE PUBLIC HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEM

Thursday July 30, 2009

THE Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Elias Sory, definitely qualifies as one of the very few Ghanaians, who have the courage, to speak on wrongs going on in their own profession.

Ever since his appointment, Dr Sory has been outspoken on certain critical issues affecting the medical profession and has minced no words in criticizing his colleagues who go overboard in certain areas.

Even though, this strong position of his, has earned him names in certain quarters, especially within the health service, it has received a high rating from the general public.

One particular issue which he raised and has received public endorsement is the rising incidence of patients dying at public hospitals.

The Director-General attributed this to the attitude of some doctors who have divided attention between public service and private work.

According to him, those doctors were being driven by monetary gains, rather than professional ethics and therefore paid more attention to their private work which tended to affect patients at public health facilities.

In his views health professionals who cannot cope with service conditions can leave honourably.

Clearly this is one statement that should not attract the sort of condemnation it has received from workers in the public health service.

It is something which has happened before and infact, it is still happening in our public health facilities.

It is, also a fact, that the attitude of some health personnel towards patients compels frustrated patients to seek attention from private clinics or indulge in self-medication.

The Ghanaian Times, has observed, unfortunate though, that gradually people are losing confidence in the public health delivery system and by extension getting fed up with the annual ritual demands for upward adjustment in salaries.

The assertion, is that services do not match the relatively better service conditions being enjoyed by our medical practitioners compared to other professions.

So instead of condemning the Director-General for his fortright statement, our health workers should accept the challenge and help bring positive changes to the health sector.

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