The Upper West Region is facing a deepening healthcare crisis, with not a single one of the 25 medical officers posted to the region in 2025 reporting for duty, Regional Minister Charles Lwanga Puozuing has revealed.

Speaking at the 2025 Annual Health Sector Performance Review Meeting in Wa, the Minister described the situation as alarming, warning that the continued attrition of health professionals is stretching the region’s already limited capacity to deliver quality care.

He disclosed that although 194 health workers exited the region through reposting within the year under review, only 30 replacements were reported, further widening the staffing gap.

“The high attrition of critical staff places enormous strain on the few who remain and threatens our ability to provide equitable and quality healthcare,” he said.

The revelation is particularly concerning given that the region recorded an improved holistic health performance score of 4.08 in 2025, up from 4.04 in 2024. Despite this progress, stakeholders say the human resource deficit risks reversing gains made in healthcare delivery.

To address the challenge, Mr Puozuing called on District Assemblies to increase investment in the health sector beyond the standard 10 per cent allocation. He urged local authorities to prioritise the construction of standard 15-room doctors’ bungalows to attract and retain medical professionals, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to completing stalled projects under the Agenda 111.

Adding to the call for infrastructure support, Member of Parliament for Daffiama-Bussie-Issa, Sebastian Sandaare, clarified that allocations from the National Health Insurance Authority meant for MPs are paid directly to District Directors of Health Services.

He urged stronger collaboration between MPs and health directors to channel the funds into building accommodation for doctors and other critical staff.

Dr Sandaare also announced plans for the rollout of the “Mahama Care” initiative, a Ghana Medical Trust Fund aimed at financing specialist training and addressing non-communicable diseases.

From an academic perspective, Bernard A. A. Akanbang, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies at the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, said efforts are underway to establish a medical school in the region.

He noted that the move is expected to provide a long-term solution to the persistent refusal of medical professionals to accept postings to the Upper West Region.

The two-day meeting, themed “Building a Resilient and Productive Workforce for Improved Health Service Delivery,” was hosted by the Regional Director of Health Services, Josephat A. Nyuzaghl, with support from partners including Stanbic Bank, Ginapharma, Tobinco Pharmaceuticals Limited, USAID and Eskay Therapeutics.

Providing peer review results, Osei Kuffour Afreh commended the region’s performance gains but raised concerns about the doctor-to-population ratio, which currently stands at one doctor to 8,969 residents.

Meanwhile, Technical Director at the Ghana Health Service Council, Kofi Issah, highlighted logistical challenges, noting that some polyclinics operate without vehicles, increasing reliance on the National Ambulance Service for basic referrals.

Despite the challenges, Dr Nyuzaghl announced key milestones, including the completion of a Global Fund-supported medical oxygen plant, which ends the region’s dependence on Kumasi for oxygen supply. He also revealed that the Upper West Regional Hospital has secured accreditation to train specialist doctors in surgery and paediatrics from 2026 to 2029.

The event concluded with an awards ceremony recognising high-performing districts and facilities, as stakeholders renewed calls for urgent interventions to address staffing gaps and strengthen healthcare delivery in the region.