Poor remuneration is to be blamed for the high rate of attrition in Ghana's health sector to the, according to the General Secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Dr. David Tenkorang-Twum.

He referred to a report titled "African Youth Survey 2022," which revealed that 44% of African youth migrate due to harsh economic factors in their respective countries, with education being the second most common reason at 41%.

Dr. Tenkorang-Twum stated that the data from the survey is not surprising because it reflects the reality on the ground.

He specifically discussed the issue of professional nurses leaving the country, highlighting that in 2013, the market premium for nurses was frozen.

Previously, the market premium was linked to the basic salaries of nurses, which helped to counteract inflation.

A market premium refers to an additional amount of pay given to employees who possess in-demand skills that are in short supply. Dr. Tenkorang-Twum pointed out that while the market premium for other professionals has been revised, there has been no improvement for health workers.

In light of this situation, Dr. Tenkorang-Twum recommended that the market premium for nurses should be tied to their basic salaries.

This, he believes, would help address the current attrition rate within the health sector.

“Because it was frozen, the gains that we made had whittled. It has been revised for certain professional groups. I don’t like comparison.

“What I think the government should do is to be able to raise the market premium. Just by pegging the market premium to the current basic salaries will be enough to stem the attrition or the exodus.

“I’m not even saying to increase the market premium, I’m saying that they should just tie it to the basic salaries. It will certainly give a certain respite to the nurses and midwives and they will be prepared to stay,” he added.