One hundred and ninety-nine newly qualified medical doctors were yesterday inducted into the Medical and Dental Council (MDC) at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Accra.
The doctors, who were trained both locally and abroad, were inducted after satisfying all the requirements of the council.
They swore both the Hippocratic Oath and recited the National Pledge to commit themselves to put their patients and the nation first and perform their duties diligently. Among other things, they pledged to not let religion, nationality, race, party politics or social standing interfere in their duty in providing care for their patients.
They also pledged to practise the profession with conscience and dignity and also respect the secrets which were confided in them, even after the death of their patients.
Continuous learning
Addressing the newly inducted doctors, the Chairman of the MDC, Dr Eric Asamoah, urged them to continue to acquire knowledge, since their training did not end with their induction into the council.
He reminded them that it was an offence to practise as a medical doctor or a dentist without registering with the council and congratulated them on meeting all the requirements of the council.
Dr Asamoah advised them to continue to learn from their seniors and even from their patients, reminding them that their success as practitioners would largely depend on their relationship with their patients.
Accept postings The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, who also addressed the inductees, advised their parents not to interfere with or influence the posting of their children.
He impressed on the doctors that it did not matter where they were posted to, but rather their services that were needed at such places “and that could be your point of breakthrough”.
Government commitment
In a speech read on his behalf, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, appealed to health workers to learn to resolve problems systematically and not always resort to industrial action.
He asked them to always use industrial action as the last resort, reminding them that the profession of a health practitioner was about service.
The minister announced that the government would provide accommodation for all new practitioners who would be posted to Tamale for their housemanship. Dr Bampoe said he was not happy about the situation where 78 per cent of the total number of medical practitioners were found in the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Central regions and said district assemblies were being encouraged to sponsor students to train as medical and dental practitioners, who would return to serve their districts after their qualification.
Two senior medical practitioners, Dr Kenneth Sagoe and Professor Efua Hesse, advised the new doctors to not neglect their health even as they put the health of their patients first.
They also urged them to leave a legacy for which they would be remembered in future.
Functions of MDC
Explaining the functions of the MDC, the Registrar of the council, Dr E.K. Atikpui said the council assessed facilities and contents of programmes for the training of doctors and dentists, as well as physician assistants in the various training institutions.
He said the council also conducted examinations for registration of foreign and locally trained medical and dental practitioners and physician assistants, as well as prescribed and enforced professional standards and conduct for practitioners.
Source: Graphic.com.gh