The Medical and Dental Council has unveiled plans to redistribute medical specialists across Ghana to address severe regional disparities in healthcare access. Currently, 83% of specialists are concentrated in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions, leaving other regions underserved.
Registrar of the Council, Dr. Divine Banyubala, criticized the situation as unacceptable and highlighted the need for equitable healthcare delivery nationwide. “64 percent precisely are in the Greater Accra region, and then Ashanti region has an additional 19 percent. Put that together, and it is already 83 percent, and we think it is unconscionable for us as a statutory regulator to watch this happening,” he said.
Under the proposed decentralization program, specialists will be deployed to underserved regions to ensure fair access to critical healthcare services. Dr. Banyubala emphasized that this initiative aims to improve health outcomes for all Ghanaians, especially those in neglected areas.
The Council will work closely with the College of Physicians and Surgeons and other key stakeholders to tackle the inequities and uphold the quality of care nationwide. This collaboration seeks to establish a sustainable framework for specialist deployment and ensure healthcare equity for underserved communities.
