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According to the Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anaesthetists (GACRA), in 2023 more than thirty percent of its members departed for more favorable conditions elsewhere.
Aside from the alarming number, it said that diligent, proficient, and experienced professional CRAs had abandoned their positions, adding that “this has brought about undue stress on the few left.”
At the GACRA’s fifth Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference in Bolgatanga, which focused on the topic of “Sustaining the practice of anesthesia in Ghana amidst the brain drain; policy direction and regulation,” Mr. Nwisangra made this statement.
The GACRA President, Mr. James Nwisangra, warned that the issue could get worse and have an impact on anesthesia practices.
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“I am told many, including some present in the conference, have intentions of leaving.”
He listed several reasons for the trained workforce’s departure, including poor career advancement opportunities, unfavorable working conditions, incorrect placement on the Single Spine Salary Scale, a dearth of scheme of service, and regulatory difficulties.
According to Mr. Nwisangra, Ghana has over 1200 CRAs that provide services to approximately 32 million people.
“This gives us a ratio of 1:26, 650.43. This is an unfortunate situation which clearly shows the magnitude of work on the CRA.”
He discussed the importance of their work in the delivery of healthcare and mentioned that one of their specialties was resuscitation of the sick, injured, critically ill, infant, and patients in intensive care units.
No one else, not even the certified regional anesthesiologist (CRA), is qualified to perform this procedure. The anesthetist is the focal point of any emergency in our medical facilities, he underlined.
During the conference, Mr. Nwisangra, who was re-elected to a four-year term as the Association’s President, voiced concerns about a number of issues, including inadequate workplace equipment and a lack of accommodations.
He noted that the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) was awaiting negotiations on a full conditions of service document that the GACRA had presented.
He claimed that the negotiation process was moving too slowly even though both sides had signed the rules of engagement.
“In order to enable us to have better conditions of service for the CRA, FWSC, the employer, and stakeholders should expedite the process.”
Mr. Nwisangra went on to say that the Association had noticed a rise in incidences of ailments like cancer, kidney, and liver in Ghana, which were not previously prevalent among the people.
According to him, studies linked the illnesses to the pollution and poisoning of rivers and other bodies of water caused by illicit mining operations, the use of unregulated chemicals on farms, substance misuse, and young drug and alcohol consumption rates.
In order to protect the lives of its residents, the Association encouraged the government to take practical steps to stop illicit mining and the use of hazardous chemicals on farmlands.
In a remark delivered on his behalf, the Ghana Health Service’s Upper East Regional Director, Dr. Samuel Kwabena Boagye-Boateng, stated that the conference’s theme was highly relevant and suitable given the number of medical professionals who are leaving the country in quest of better opportunities elsewhere.
He warned that the tendency would have disastrous effects on the public’s health if left unchecked.
He recognized the critical roles that anesthetists play in providing high-quality healthcare.
“Everyone living in Ghana should be concerned about the migration of anesthetists and other health professionals to other countries in search of better conditions of service. If this migration is not checked or minimized, it will affect access to quality healthcare, which will negatively impact our health status,” he stated.
