Healthcare delivery in the Upper West Region is facing a severe crisis after an alarming number of newly posted medical doctors refused to report for duty.

The regional health administration confirmed that 25 out of the 32 doctors allocated to the region for the 2025/2026 service period have failed to accept their postings, leaving a huge gap in the medical workforce.

The Upper West Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Joshephat Nuzagl, expressed deep worry over the refusal, warning that the immediate shortfall will have a “huge negative impact” on the quality of healthcare available to the region’s nearly one million inhabitants.

Disastrous Doctor-to-Patient Ratio

The refusal rate, which accounts for over 78% of the allocated slots, intensifies the existing pressure on the region's limited healthcare personnel.

According to JoyNews Upper West Regional Correspondent, Rafiq Salam, the region currently manages with only 55 active medical doctors at post to cater to a population of close to one million people.

This ratio means that, on average, each doctor is responsible for the health needs of approximately 18,181 people—a ratio far exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended standard for effective primary care.

The new allocation was intended to significantly alleviate this burden, but the mass refusal has exacerbated the situation.

Dr. Nuzagl disclosed that the region was allocated 32 slots for doctors to apply for postings, highlighting the high expectation that this intake would bridge critical staffing gaps across district and municipal health facilities.

Pleading for Acceptance

Faced with the dire staffing situation, Dr. Nuzagl confirmed that the regional health directorate is actively engaging in remedial action, which primarily involves continued efforts to persuade the non-reporting doctors to reconsider.

Dr. Joshephat Nuzagl stated that they are still pursuing and pleading with doctors to accept the posting to the region to aid in quality health care delivery in the region.

The refusal of doctors to accept postings to regions like the Upper West is a recurring challenge in Ghana’s public health sector. Factors commonly cited by health professionals include:

1. Lack of Adequate Infrastructure: Limited access to high-quality housing, reliable utilities, and specialised medical equipment compared to urban centres.
2. Professional Isolation: Fewer opportunities for continuous professional development and collaboration with specialist colleagues.
3. Family and Social Concerns: The perceived lack of high-quality schooling and social amenities for families in remote areas.

The regional health directorate's appeal underscores the government's continued struggle to ensure equitable distribution of medical personnel across all regions, particularly in the northern part of Ghana, where healthcare infrastructure remains underdeveloped.