Delay In Posting Physician Assistants Worrying – Physician Assistant Association
The Ghana Physician Assistant Association has said the continuous delay in posting Physician Assistants (PA) to health facilities hinders the country’s effort to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.
The President of the Association, Emmanuel Yaw Appiah, speaking at the 19th Annual General Conference of the Ghana Physician Assistants Association, highlighted that they had observed some rural and hard-to-reach communities need the services of physician assistants but qualified personnel remain home awaiting placement.
“Delay in getting financial clearance for qualified physician assistants is arguably the main reason for the large numbers of unemployed physician assistants. I want to use this opportunity to make a passionate appeal to the Ministries of Health and Finance to expedite the processes leading to the issuance of financial clearance and subsequent employment of these qualified healthcare cadres,” he appealed.
He also stated that physician assistants man most health facilities in the country and that these cadres of healthcare professionals handle about 70% of the health needs of rural and underserved populations.
He again noted that physician assistants consult, request laboratory investigations, prescribe medication, and perform minor surgeries, among other responsibilities.
The Ghana Physician Assistants Association expressed concern over what they claimed was proper recognition.
“Although the physician assistant remains a key player and actor in the health care delivery machinery, especially at the sub-district level, not much has been done through policy formulation and implementation to capacitate and resource the physician assistant to function effectively and efficiently at the sub-district level, the fulcrum, and vehicle for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage for all,” He explained.
“It is unfortunate to note that despite the many years of existence of the PA profession, there has not been any properly established career progression pathway in the profession. It is our hope that the current deliberations ongoing amongst the officials of the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, Medical and Dental Council of Ghana, the Academia and Ghana Physician Assistant Association (GPAA) will bring about the establishment of clear career and academic pathways for the PA profession” Mr Appiah added.
The association is also unhappy with what they described as unfavourable policies by their regulator, the Medical and Dental Council (MDC).
“Most of our members are demanding that we exit the MDC and get a new regulatory body to supervise and manage physician assistants’ affairs. The MDC always formulates policies that serve the interest of medical officers at the expense of physician assistants. So there is huge pressure on leadership for a slip because of the kind of things the regulator has done”,Mr. Appiah said.
The 3-day conference, which afforded members the opportunity to deliberate on their challenges and way forward into the future, was themed: “Strengthening and Maximizing the sub-district level for effective, efficient and equitable healthcare service delivery: The role of the stakeholder.”