Ghana’s health sector facing crisis as 10,000 nurses, midwives flee

Ghana’s health sector is facing serious challenges as over 10,000 nurses and midwives have reportedly left the country for better opportunities, mostly in Europe.

This growing wave of migration is weakening the healthcare system and putting more pressure on the few health workers who have chosen to stay.

Joseph Krampah, the National Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), says this troubling trend is getting worse by the day. He warned that the increasing workload is causing burnout among nurses and midwives, which is affecting how well they care for patients.

Krampah strongly criticized how the government has handled the situation. He blamed previous governments, especially the last NPP administration, for ignoring the concerns of health workers.

He pointed out that past efforts by President John Agyekum Kufuor helped reduce brain drain by offering incentives like car waivers and a market premium. However, Krampah said these programs were stopped by the Akufo-Addo government, despite repeated calls to bring them back.

“We told them to reintroduce these incentives. They didn’t do it. It’s a major thing the government must take seriously. People will still leave, but not at this alarming rate,” he said.

Krampah warned that ignoring the issue will push the health sector to the edge. He explained that tired and overstretched health workers often appear rude, not because they are heartless, but because they are overwhelmed and exhausted.

He also stated that while the government claimed only 3,000 nurses had plans to leave the country, over 10,000 had actually applied for clearance through the GRNMA by June 2024.

The Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives also shared concerns. They proposed several solutions, including faster recruitment, better salaries, improved working conditions, and the reintroduction of car duty waivers. They also called for rural allowances and decent housing to encourage health workers to serve in remote communities.

Health experts say that Ghana must act quickly to avoid losing more trained health workers. Joseph Krampah and others believe the new Mahama-led administration should follow President Kufuor’s example by putting proper incentives in place.

If nothing is done, Ghana risks collapsing one of its most important sectors — healthcare — and this could seriously affect the country’s progress.