Govt launches programme to make post-graduate medical education free

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Thursday launched a scholarship programme for postgraduate training of doctors in Ghana.

According to the Vice President, the scholarship scheme is in fulfillment of President Nana Akufo-Addo's promise to make post-graduate medical education in Ghana free.

“In line with this, the school fees for the 918 residents and senior residents

Read full articleenrolled in the 2019/2020 academic year have been covered under this new arrangement with the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat,” the Vice President said in a Facebook post.

Also, GH¢6,885,000.00 has been released to the College of Physicians and Surgeons to offset more than half of the projected budget of GH¢11 million which the College required to achieve its mandate this year, the Vice President said.

“I emphasised that government is committed to the health of Ghanaians and will do everything possible to assure all citizens of accessible, affordable and available health service delivery and committed to investing in all aspects of the health system – in physical infrastructure and soft infrastructure by leveraging on technology to leapfrog our development,” he said.

The move to make post-graduate medical education free is aimed at increasing the dwindling number of medical officers at the country’s health facilities.

The mass exodus of doctors and other medical professionals from Ghana into other countries to pursue post-graduate training programmes has been described as a major challenge for the country's health sector.