Dr. Frank Serebour, the President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), has defended the call for improved working conditions, stating that enhancing conditions for doctors could curb the current brain drain in the health sector.
In an interview, Dr. Serebour deemed the demands as reasonable, emphasizing the need for increased salaries and other incentives.
He proposed a system where individuals could retire on a Ghanaian salary after 20 years of continuous service in the country, potentially mitigating the brain drain issue.
Dr. Serebour highlighted the stark reality that some doctors still rely on public transport or Uber to respond to emergencies, leading to potential loss of lives.
He asserted that these demands are not luxuries but essential factors that could influence young professionals to choose to work in Ghana.
During the 65th General Meeting of the Association, Dr. Serebour underscored the importance of ensuring the well-being and security of doctors both during and after active service.
He called on the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to promptly address the overdue matter of salary increases.
Dr. Serebour stressed that any delays would not be accepted, and the GMA would insist on the full implementation of agreed-upon terms by January 2024.
Additionally, he emphasized that existing conditions of service should be maintained during negotiations, and any due aspects of the document should be implemented as previously done for non-basic allowances.
