Ghana Medical Association (GMA) is advocating strongly for the discontinuation of certificate and diploma nursing programs, pushing for all nursing education to be elevated to the degree level.

This proposed reform aims to address challenges within the country's healthcare sector by ensuring a more qualified and professional nursing workforce.

According to Prof. Ernest Yorke, Vice President of the GMA, as reported on myjoyonline.com, there is a pressing need for a highly skilled nursing population.

He criticized the current system as "bizarre," citing the existence of three different entry levels into the nursing and midwifery profession.

Prof. Yorke emphasized the prevalence of auxiliary nurses, comprising nearly 60% of the workforce, and stressed the urgency of increasing the number of degree-prepared nurses to become the majority.

“We think that the majority must be degree-prepared,” Yorke stated, stressing the need for a more skilled nursing population.

“We have to cancel certificate programmes, we have to cancel diploma programs, and train nurses and midwives at the degree level,” he added.

Drawing comparisons with Nigeria, where a first degree is mandatory for registered nurses and midwives, Prof Yorke argued that Ghana has the necessary resources and educational institutions to implement similar standards.

"We have the human resources and the schools so we can do that. The diploma and degree-trained nurses and midwives are professional nurses," he noted.

The GMA's recommendation to elevate nursing education to the degree level is a crucial step towards enhancing the quality of Ghana's healthcare system.

By prioritizing degree-prepared nurses, Ghana can improve patient outcomes, reduce maternal mortality, and align with international standards.

The successful implementation of this proposal will require collaboration among stakeholders, but the potential benefits to the healthcare system and the nation as a whole make it a worthwhile endeavour.