A senior lecturer at the Orthopedic Department of the University of Health And Allied Sciences, Dr. Korpisah has expressed concern over the lack of surgeons in their field.

According to him, there are only 54 certified orthopaedic surgeons in Ghana.

Trauma and orthopedic cases make up a significant portion of the general health cases recorded in hospitals across the country.

However, the issues of infrastructure, logistics, and the lack of specialized personnel have become major setbacks to resolving the conditions of such patients.

This worrying trend in the health sector dominated discussions at the 2nd annual general and scientific meeting of the Orthopedic Association of Ghana.

The event which was held in Accra brought together medical experts and other stakeholders to dialogue on the way forward.

Speaking to JoyNews on the sidelines of the meeting, Dr. Korpisah said their number is woefully inadequate and blamed the long study duration which according to him, deters Ghanaian students from studying that course.

“Our biggest challenge is our numbers. Presently, the numbers are so few that we the orthopedic surgeons are about fifty-four. That is those qualified and with the residence in training, we don’t make up 100”, he said.

Dr. Kumah Ametepey, a Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, added that the high cost of instruments used in treating trauma and orthopedic cases adds up to the challenge of lack of personnel in the country.

Orthopedic care is intended to treat a wide range of conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system.