General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr Titus Kofi Beyuo, has advised government to find ways of attracting and retaining doctors.

The continuous attrition, he says, poses a threat to the quality of healthcare delivery.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express Personality Profile, Dr Beyuo explained that the practice of medicine in rural areas was unattractive because doctors had to live in deplorable conditions creating the impression that they were forgotten.

“Whenever a doctor takes posting to a rural area it’s a very expensive process for the doctor, you have to necessarily keep two homes, your kids cannot school in that village maybe with your spouse and you are there and coming,” he said on Friday, November 18.

Over the past few years, the medical profession has seen a worrying exodus with many offers seeking greener pastures outside the country.

Additionally, a survey conducted by the Association suggested that most Ghanaian doctors are considering leaving the country.

On the back of this, the GMA General Secretary proposed that “doctors must be given a special location-specific incentive allowance.” Consequently, he wants the doctor in the rural area to earn more than one in the city.

Dr Beyuo, who doubles as a consultant obstetrician-gynecologist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, explained that government must get rid of the mentality that once they trained doctors, they are obliged to do their bidding.

“Government needs to recognise that the doctor has choices to make. It is not as though they do not have choices, so the old mentality of; we have trained you so when we post you must go, does not wash anymore because the doctor is not the only one trained with the taxpayers money,” the GMA executive told host Ayisha Ibrahim.