Medical Negligence: Vice President bemoans rising cases in recent times

The Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia has bemoaned the increasing cases and complaints of Medical Negligence among the nation’s health professionals.

He noted that there have also been increasing reports of health professionals who abuse substances leading to infirmities in their minds which he believes can call the quality of the profession into question if not checked.

Speaking at the opening of a three-day conference by the Medical and Dental Council in Accra, the Vice President commended the Council for coming up with a policy document that seeks to address these issues.

He added that a proposal to the World Bank for Regulatory Health System Strengthening Support for Quality Assurance of Health Care was approved in June 2020 by the Ministry of Health.

The US$15.2 Million he said has been approved by the World Bank and will be of immense benefit to the Pharmacy Council, the Allied Health Professions Council, and the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency and will serve as the largest single investment in the regulation of the medical profession.

On his part, the Health Minister, Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu announced that the draft bill for the amendment of Part 2 of the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013(Act 857) had been approved by cabinet and expected to be laid before parliament.

He noted that the amendment will help increase funding and raise standards for the training of medical professionals.