The Ghana Medical and Dental Council has disclosed that 17 medical practitioners have been reported with various mental health conditions, while 12 others are battling substance abuse.
The Council made the disclosure during a visit by Parliament’s Health Committee, where it outlined measures being implemented to support affected practitioners.
Registrar of the Council, Dr. Divine Banyubala, said the reported cases are managed through a structured assessment process aimed at determining practitioners’ fitness to practise while ensuring they receive the necessary support.
According to him, the Council constitutes health assessment panels whenever referrals are made to evaluate individual cases.
He explained that in one instance, a practitioner referred to the assessment panel was found not to have any significant condition requiring intervention.
“When the panel met and assessed, we saw that there was nothing of note. But we do what we call watchful waiting,” he said.
Despite the interventions, the registrar described the issue as a significant concern requiring a broader response.
He disclosed that the Council convened a stakeholder meeting in February, where participants agreed that a nationwide baseline study should be conducted to assess the mental health and fitness to practise of healthcare professionals in Ghana.
According to Dr. Banyubala, the study will help identify the prevalence of mental health challenges among healthcare workers, examine the impact of workplace stress and burnout, and determine whether adequate support systems exist for practitioners who require care.
He said the initiative forms part of efforts to strengthen the resilience of Ghana’s healthcare system.
