The Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Atanga Akamugri, has expressed grave concern over the refusal of most doctors posted to the region to report for duty.

Speaking to journalists during a press soiree held in Bolgatanga, the Regional Minister revealed that only three out of the 26 doctors assigned to the region in 2025 by the Ministry of Health had so far assumed duty.

The Minister said the situation posed a serious challenge to healthcare delivery in the region, despite government’s ongoing investments to strengthen the health system.

“On the issue of the 26 doctors that were posted to the region, only five have reported so far, with three currently working at the Regional Hospital, while one is yet to assume duty at the Paga Hospital,” he said.

He described the development as worrying, given the already strained doctor-to-patient ratio in the region.

He noted that although the doctor-to-patient ratio had improved marginally from 1:17,173 to 1:14,072, it remained far below the national target of 1:7,500, underscoring the urgency of attracting and retaining medical professionals in the region.

To address the persistent challenges, including infrastructure gaps and the shortage of doctors and specialists, the Minister said government had intensified the deployment of nurses, midwives and community health workers, alongside investments in training and capacity building.

He announced that the Ministry of Health, through the Regional Coordinating Council, in partnership with the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) and the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, was working towards establishing a medical school at UTAS and upgrading the Upper East Regional Hospital into a teaching hospital.

Mr Akamugri stated that specialist training programmes would begin at the Regional Hospital, starting with paediatrics and obstetrics and gynaecology, with plans to introduce surgery and other specialties in subsequent years.

He disclosed that admissions for prospective students had already commenced and expressed confidence that the move would be a long-term solution to the persistent doctor attrition rate in the region.

The Minister, however, highlighted notable gains in the health sector since the assumption of office by the current government, including improved service delivery, disease prevention and access to essential medicines.

He stressed that while progress had been made, the low reporting rate of doctors remained a major setback, calling for sustained efforts to make the region more attractive to medical professionals and ultimately improve healthcare outcomes.