About 70 percent of medical doctors in Ghana who secure loans from local banks reportedly fail to repay them, according to the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Association of Banks (GAB), John Awuah.

Speaking on PM Business Edition on JoyNews, as monitored by GhanaWeb Business, Mr. Awuah described the situation as a growing challenge for the banking sector.

He explained that despite being viewed as credible professionals, many doctors take personal loans from banks and later travel abroad without settling their debts.

Mr. Awuah noted that the problem is largely linked to medical practitioners who relocate overseas for work after acquiring loans locally.

“Let me tell you, we have heard of doctors. These are on the moral pecking order. When you see a medical doctor, you almost 100% assume that they are not fallible. They don’t make mistakes, and things like borrowing and payment will come to them naturally," he said.

“Do you know what doctors are doing to the banking system, particularly those who are offshoring their services, like migrating to other jurisdictions to work? They have bank accounts. They use your bank statements," he added.

He further mentioned that the Ghana Association of Banks has initiated talks with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the matter through diplomatic engagement.

“Wherever they are going, they are working there and earning, and one would think that as medical practitioners, they will just say, ‘I have a liability in Ghana, which enabled me to demonstrate that I can fund my travel, so let me come and settle. About 70% of them are not paying," he stated.

He concluded by saying, “There are processes we are going through with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to contact the diplomatic corps, since you don’t just wake up and write to them. We have started already, there is a letter logged at the ministry."

The latest Ghana Human Development Report, titled "The Future Value of Work in Ghana," has raised alarms about the potential deterioration of the country’s health system if urgent measures are not taken to address the significant outflow of locally trained doctors and nurses.

The report highlights a troubling trend: 24 percent of nurses trained in Ghana are currently employed abroad due to unfavorable working conditions. The situation is even more severe for doctors, with half of the country's trained physicians having left for better opportunities overseas.

Authored by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in collaboration with the Statistical Service and the National Development Planning Commission, the report emphasizes that the Ghanaian health sector is in a precarious state.

It calls for immediate policy and pragmatic interventions to prevent a total collapse of the healthcare system.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana's health system showcased its ability to handle emergencies effectively. However, the sector continues to face significant challenges, including shortages of essential materials such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and a dwindling workforce due to the emigration of qualified health personnel.

The Global Partnership Network's 2024 data underscores the gravity of the situation, estimating that 50 percent of doctors and 24 percent of nurses trained in Ghana are working abroad.

This migration is attributed to poor working conditions for healthcare professionals within the country. The report stresses that without prompt intervention, the already fragile health system could deteriorate further.

To address these issues, the Future of Work report outlines several strategies to make the healthcare system more responsive to the nation's evolving health needs. As the disease burden grows more complex due to factors like environmental issues, changing age structures, and lifestyle shifts, the healthcare system must adapt accordingly.

The report identifies 11 critical areas within Ghana's health policy that require strengthening, including health promotion, palliative care, and rehabilitative care, which have traditionally lagged behind preventive and curative care. It advocates for a greater focus on health promotion, particularly primary healthcare and environmental health, to enhance both direct and indirect impacts on human capital development.

Furthermore, the report suggests adopting a life course approach to health delivery. This approach would address the needs of various population groups, such as the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and marginalized communities in urban slums, who often cannot fully benefit from existing curative and preventive care services.