- GMA calls on political parties to outline health worker policies.
- Health workers face financial struggles with medical bills.
- Recent case highlights need for support policies.
- Government urged to cover health workers' medical costs.
Prof. Titus Kofi Beyuo, General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), has urged political parties to outline their policies for health workers ahead of the December 2024 elections.
This call comes amidst challenges health workers face when encountering health issues, as the current status quo lacks clear policies to protect them.
A recent case highlighted the struggles health workers face, as a health practitioner diagnosed with cancer had to undergo surgery to remove both breasts, ovaries, and uterus, and later passed away due to financial constraints.
The practitioner’s brother shared her ordeal on Onua TV’s morning show, Maakye, emphasizing the difficulties health workers face in paying medical bills.
Prof. Beyuo likened the situation to “a person who is thirsty and sits by a stream but cannot drink some,” stressing the need for policies to support health workers.
He shared his personal experience, where his wife, a health worker, had to pay for delivering her baby at the same hospital where she worked.
Some health facilities have instituted staff healthcare programs to cater to part of the costs of medical bills not covered by the national health insurance.
However, Prof. Beyuo emphasized that all presidential aspirants should outline their policies for health workers, as this would serve as motivation for those in the sector.
He suggested that the government should bear a portion of the cost for workers whose health needs are not catered for in the health insurance and pay for expenses of health professionals who require treatment abroad.
Prof. Beyuo’s call seeks to ensure that health workers receive the support they need, and he hopes that political parties will respond with comprehensive policies.
