"It is worrying" - Prof. Akosa sounds alarm over failing medical ethics

Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa sounded the alarm at the opening ceremony of the 14th Annual General and Scientific Meeting of the Ghana Association of Radiologists (GAR) on Thursday in Accra. He stated, "The number of people who are sending cases to the Medical and Dental Council, it is worrying. It is worrying. We have so many cases backlogged that we're having to investigate."

The Medical and Dental Council (MDC) has expressed worry over a surge in medical negligence, malpractice, and professional misconduct complaints. The MDC warned of a backlog of disciplinary cases under investigation, pointing to a decline in professional ethics, institutional accountability, and patient-centred care. Professor Akosa revealed that patients are getting bolder and reporting experiences to the Medical and Dental Council. He directed health workers to visibly identify themselves by wearing name tags and urged practitioners to maintain precise documentation. Professor Akosa exposed absenteeism among top-tier medical specialists at public hospitals and cautioned doctors against using logistical challenges as an excuse to abandon emergency patients.

Dr. Francis Ofei made an appeal for increased state investment in modern diagnostic equipment. Dr. Ofei revealed an escalation in chronic kidney disease across Ghanaian communities, linking it to environmental degradation caused by illegal mining (galamsey). He explained that heavy industrial chemicals are poisoning major river bodies and destroying the renal health of rural populations. He lamented that healthcare delivery is done in silos.