The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has raised concerns about potential risks related to alcohol misuse, drug abuse, and instances of sexual misconduct among some of its members.
The GMA President, Dr. Frank Serebour, emphasized that such behaviors compromise patient care, as the affected doctors continue to work daily. Speaking at the GMA’s annual general meeting, Dr. Serebour pointed out that the association is facing multiple lawsuits over allegations of medical and professional negligence, highlighting the urgent need for corrective action.
“We have some health personnel struggling with alcoholism and drug abuse, which affects their quality of life,” he stated.
He also mentioned that there have been serious cases of sexual harassment by health workers, with many complaints still under review by the Medical and Dental Council.
Dr. Serebour expressed his concern about the increasing number of legal actions against health facilities, noting that the outcomes often reflect poorly on the entire profession.
“In some cases, we are fortunate to evade responsibility simply because the victims of our unprofessionalism choose to blame external forces instead of addressing the system,” he added.
Additionally, he condemned unprofessional practices, including chronic lateness, absenteeism, and insufficient work hours, questioning whether professionalism is declining in the health sector.
“Is there an overwhelming focus on greed and selfishness? Some staff arrive at 9:00 a.m. and leave by noon, expecting to be compensated for a full day’s work,” he remarked.
