The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has revealed that the government is considering reviewing admissions into health training institutions as part of efforts to address the growing employment backlog within Ghana's health sector.
Speaking during the rollout of the government's Free Primary Healthcare Policy in the Volta Region, the Minister noted that the number of students admitted annually into nursing and other health training institutions far exceeds the country's capacity to recruit them into the public health workforce after graduation.
According to Mr. Akandoh, health training institutions currently admit between 34,000 and 35,000 students each year, while the rate of recruitment into the health sector remains significantly lower.
"We must begin to analyze our admissions into our nursing training colleges. What's the point if we are training more people and we cannot recruit them? On average, we are admitting between 34,000 and 35,000 students every year, but the rate at which we absorb them is not commensurate with the admissions," he stated.
The Health Minister explained that the government is reviewing various options to address the challenge, including balancing admissions with available employment opportunities and increasing recruitment into the health sector.
"It is up to all of us whether to continue on that tangent or to invest in recruitment and recruit more people. This is for all of us to contemplate," he added.
Free Primary Healthcare Policy Piloted in 150 Districts
Mr. Akandoh made the remarks while launching the Free Primary Healthcare Policy, which is currently being piloted in 150 districts across the country.
The policy provides free primary healthcare services to all Ghanaians at Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds and health centres. Government plans to expand the initiative nationwide after assessing the outcomes of the pilot phase.
In the Volta Region, beneficiary districts include Agotime-Ziope, North Dayi, South Dayi, and Ketu North.
As part of efforts to support the implementation of the policy, the Health Minister handed over medical equipment, tricycles, and bicycles for distribution to healthcare facilities across the beneficiary districts.
Collective Effort Needed for Success
The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, called on stakeholders, healthcare workers, and community members to work together to ensure the success of the programme.
He emphasized that the initiative aims to improve health outcomes, reduce inequalities in access to healthcare services, and accelerate Ghana's progress toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
"We seek to improve health outcomes, reduce inequalities in access to healthcare services, and move steadily towards the attainment of universal health coverage," Mr. Gunu said.
He further noted that the successful implementation of primary healthcare requires a whole-of-society approach built on strong partnerships, shared responsibility, and active community participation.
"Together, we can build a healthier Volta Region where every citizen has the opportunity to lead a productive and fulfilling life," he added.
The Free Primary Healthcare Policy is expected to strengthen Ghana's healthcare delivery system by making essential healthcare services more accessible and affordable to citizens, particularly those living in underserved communities.
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