The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has called on the government to fast-track the implementation of a rural incentive policy aimed at encouraging doctors and other health professionals to accept postings to rural communities.

The General Secretary of the GMA, Richard Selormey, made the appeal while speaking on JoyNews on Friday, March 13.

Dr Selormey explained that the policy already exists as a working document but has not yet been fully implemented.

According to him, the initiative was developed during the previous administration and progressed through several high-level discussions before the process stalled.

“It’s a document that we started working on in the previous administration. It went through several discussions at the ministerial level and even with Cabinet,” he said.

He noted that the process was eventually halted but indicated that the current Health Minister has revived the initiative.

“The current minister has taken it up again from where we started, and it is being worked on. It is our belief that this must be pushed forward,” he added.

Incentives to attract health workers to rural areas

Dr Selormey explained that the policy proposes several incentives designed to make rural postings more attractive, particularly for early-career doctors and other health workers.

These include special allowances and other benefits to compensate for the limited amenities and professional opportunities often found in remote areas.

“These are things like some allowances and other incentives to support them when they accept postings to these areas,” he said.

Encouraging signs in recent postings

He expressed optimism that once the policy is fully implemented, more doctors will be willing to serve in deprived communities.

According to him, recent posting cycles already show encouraging signs.

“We’ve seen in the recent posting cycle that over 50 to 60 per cent have accepted postings to these areas,” he noted.

Dr Selormey added that closer collaboration with the GMA could further improve the situation in future postings.

“With the involvement of the GMA, we hope that the next posting cycle will be even better when these policies are implemented not only for doctors but for other health workers as well,” he said.