The Allied Health Professions Council has revealed that the allied health industry has been infiltrated by quacks inundating the system with their fraudulent activities.

The Council attributed the seemingly unending actions of these medical fraudsters to the non-enforcement of laws and the lack of prosecution against such acts.

According to the Council, a joint effort by its Governing Board and the Health Intelligence Unit of the Ministry of Health to halt the activities of these unqualified health officers have proven futile over the years.

Speaking at the 9th Induction and Oath Swearing Ceremony of Allied Health Professional interns in Kumasi, on Saturday, the Deputy Registrar of the Council bemoaned the inaction of law enforcement agencies in this regard.

Mr. Daniel Atta-Nyarko is worried that reported cases of quacks have not seen adequate punitive action.

“The expected support from law enforcement agencies have not helped much to deal with the issue. Several cases reported to the Police across the country appear dead for the lack of prosecution. We are appealing for the necessary support in this fight by swiftly dealing with the offenders to protect unsuspecting members of the society from these criminals,” he said.

He therefore urged the public to report persons found culpable for swift action.

“The public should immediately report to the Council any suspicious activities of people who pose as allied health professionals,” he appealed.

The ceremony saw allied health graduates with diploma in dispensing optics, community mental health, disease control, dental surgery, diagnostic radiological technology and health promotion inducted into their one year mandatory internship, beginning in December.

Mr. Daniel Atta-Nyarko also called on the Ministry of Health to urgently support the quest to replace some 4-year bachelor programmes with 6-year professional doctorates.

“The government of Ghana through the Ministry of Health has approved these programmes developed by the West African Health Organization (WAHO). The introduction of two of the programmes, namely, Doctor of Optometry and Doctor of Medical Laboratory Sciences has been confronted with several challenges. We are hoping that the Ministry will give equal recognition and support it has given to similar programmes,” he said.

A representative from the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, Dorcas Baidoo assured of government’s commitment to reduce the number of unemployed allied health professionals through recruitments under its Agenda 111 project.

“The completion of projects under Agenda 111, where 88 district hospitals are being built across in the country and at various stages of construction, will automatically lead to the recruitment of more health professionals to provide services in these facilities. The government is aware of the crucial roles Allied health professionals play in the health sector and the government is committed to support the sector to provide the highest healthcare to the people of Ghana,” she said.

Board Chair, Justice Ofori Amoah advised the inductees to conduct their duties diligently despite the challenges confronting their professions.

“Cybersecurity threats, Telehealth implementation, price transparency mandate, IT healthcare investment, infectious and non-infectious diseases are challenges bedeviling the allied health sector globally. We want to challenge you that once you come into this profession, take up all these challenges among other things so as to have a very good stay in the industry,” he said.

The newly admitted professionals pledged to unreservedly maintain the highest moral, ethical and legal principles and conduct on their clients and the Allied Health Professions Council.

The 2022 induction and oath swearing ceremony was on the theme: “Improving Access to Quality Healthcare: the role of the allied health professional”.