GMA opposes establishment of new medical schools
The country’s higher universities’ plans to open new medical schools have alarmed the Ghana Medical Association (GMA).
Speaking to Citi News, GMA president Dr. Frank Serebour issued a warning that this practice might result in a drop in the caliber and standards of medical education and practice.
He asked the government to concentrate on growing the current facilities in order to train more people.
Dr. Serebour expressed his displeasure with the establishment of additional medical schools and stressed the importance of maintaining standards in the healthcare industry and providing high-quality training.
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He argued in favor of using the external teaching size concept because he thought it would guarantee good results, standards, and quality.
“I am not happy, and I think it is wrong that we are opening up new medical schools everywhere. I think the best course of action is to increase the number of external teachers. That would, in my opinion, guarantee standards are upheld, quality is guaranteed, and even good numbers are achieved. It is also simple and affordable, and it is preferable to turning every regional hospital into a teaching hospital or medical school. The GMA’s concerns are warranted given Ghana’s health sector’s various difficulties, which have a substantial impact on healthcare delivery.”
Health facilities acting as teaching hospitals is one of the main issues noted.
To address these issues, the Bekwai Municipal Hospital and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have inked a memorandum of understanding for KNUST medical students to use the hospital as a clinical training facility.
The partnership seeks to alleviate the burden on Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in order to give KNUST medical students the training they require.
Joseph Osei-Owusu, the First Deputy Speaker of the Ghanaian Parliament and the Member of Parliament for Bekwai, stated his delight about the partnership, saying that medical student training is essential and that they are eager to grow if funding becomes available.
“A medical student’s training is essential, required. Even with these two institutions added to the others, it is still insufficient. And it comes with money, naturally, if you want to grow.
I haven’t known calm since the day you said that Bekwai Hospital may be utilized for training. Health workers are vital to the population’s well-being, hence it is imperative that standards in medical education be upheld, according to Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice Chancellor at KNUST.
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Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice Chancellor for KNUST, also emphasized the importance of maintaining standards in medical education, as health professionals play a crucial role in taking care of the population.
“Regardless of the fact that we are challenged by the huge numbers, one thing that we don’t want to get wrong is that standards must always be maintained because these health professionals are the people that will look after us when are not, in fact when we are unconscious. When you can’t speak, they’ll decide what to do with you and me so we better ensure that the standards are kept.”
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