In a recent development, some 327 newly qualified doctors and dentists from seven different universities in Ghana were formally inducted into the Ghana Medical and Dental Council on Saturday, December 23, 2023.
Dr. Divine Banyubala, the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council, underscored the weight of their newfound roles during the induction ceremony. He emphasized that these medical and dental practitioners, now transitioning from students to professionals, bear the significant responsibility of safeguarding human lives.
Dr. Banyubala stated, “Inductees, what this means is that from today, a greater responsibility in the care of the patients will be laid at your feet as you take on the role of frontline professionals. This role literally includes the responsibility to decide between life and death.”
“It is therefore important that, having met the basic training requirements, the Medical and Dental Council, which supervised your basic training, formally admits you into the profession, registers you, and regulates your pre-registration practice, commonly referred to as Housemanship,” he added.
He also outlined a five-year strategic development plan, developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization, commencing in January 2024. The plan aims to align with key sector policies and establish modalities for a common registration examination for both locally and internationally trained medical and dental practitioners.
Alhaji Hafiz Adam, Chief Director at the Ministry of Health, expressed concern over the conduct of some healthcare professionals, noting instances of negligence, improper behavior, and unethical behavior. He emphasized the societal expectation of a high standard of professionalism and conduct from healthcare professionals, urging the newly qualified doctors and dentists to uphold the oath they took during the induction ceremony and serve with diligence, integrity, dedication, and respect.
“I wish to touch on the issue of attitude and conduct among healthcare professionals. Given the high esteem society holds for healthcare professionals, there is a rightful expectation of a correspondingly high standard of professionalism and conduct,” he said.
“Regrettably, often the allure of specialized knowledge and success, if not properly managed, tends to result in bloated egos and inconsiderate conduct and may make one lose his humanity—the capacity to care,” he said.
“The very people who openly swore their professional oaths and committed themselves to serve us in our most vulnerable states are now our abusers. This is unacceptable,” he added.
He further expressed the Ministry’s commitment to a collaborative relationship with the newly qualified professionals as he urged them to uphold the oaths they took.
