GMA Alarmed Over Rising Alcohol Abuse, Drug & Sexual Misconduct Among Doctors

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA), has raised serious concerns, regarding issues of alcohol misuse, drug abuse, and instances of sexual misconduct among some of its members across the country.

President of the Association, Dr Frank Serebour, who voiced out the worried trend, said such behaviour put patients care at risk, as affected doctors continue to work daily.

Speaking during the opening of the 66th Annual General Conference of the Association held in Ho, Dr Serebour, said the association is facing multiple lawsuits over allegations of medical and professional negligence, underscoring the urgent need for action to correct these issues.

“We have some health personnel involved in alcoholism and drug abuse, which impacts their quality of life,” he said in a report by myjoyonline.com.

He added that, there have been severe cases of sexual harassment by health workers, with many complaints still under review by the Medical and Dental Council.

Dr Serebour, further expressed concern over rising legal actions against health facilities, noting that outcomes often reflect poorly on the profession.

“In some cases, we are left off the hook simply because the victims of our unprofessionalism choose to blame the witches and wizards instead of taking on the system,” he further added.

The GMA President, also criticised certain unprofessional practices like chronic lateness, absenteeism, and insufficient work hours, questioning if professionalism is diminishing in the health sector.

“Is there an overwhelming focus on greed and selfishness? Some workers arrive at 9:00 a.m. and leave by noon, expecting to be paid for a full day,” he remarked.

The Annual General Conference was on the theme: “Fostering Technology, Entrepreneurship and Professionalism in Ghana’s Health Sector”, and more than 1,000 members of the Association are in the Volta Regional capital for the week-long event.

GMA Not Subset Of Organised Labour

Meanwhile, Dr Serebour, has also justified the Association’s decision not to back the recent planned total workforce strike against illegal mining.

The medical association, days before the organised labour cancelled nationwide strike in October 2024, announced its decision, as top of the essential service line, to maintain its members in service.

Illegal mining, had threatened human existence at all-time high with the heavy pollution of entire courses of water bodies, and so the decision to not support the strike action was widely considered an act of bad faith.

In his address during the annual general meeting, Dr Serebour, stated the independence of the Association from Trade Union Congress, and thus could not be thrown around by the Congress.

“Galamsey is something all of us hate. The destruction of our forest reserves and the pollution of our water bodies is unpardonable. I will however want to address the ghost of organised labour at this Congress.

“Indeed, this is a creation of our own, the Frankenstein of our time, which may continue to haunt us all into the future. It must be stated clearly and unambiguously that Ghana Medical Association is not a subset of organised labour – we are not.

“We are an independent Association and the labour union that takes and should take decisions on our own terms and principles, GMA cannot and should not be salivating, when organised labour rings the bell. We won’t be salivating when they ring the bell,” the President stated.

Dr Serebour, affirmed that the position on the strike action was a collective.

“The decision by the GMA not to join the organised labour strike or intended strike on the 10th of October 2024 was a majority decision by the Council of the GMA. You will hear people say it was not a Council decision. The decision was taken on the 3rd of October 2024.”

The President of the Association, condemned the leak of the Council’s decision to the public ahead of planned announcement, saying, “this planted the virus of chaos and generated various forms of discussions with some seriously uncomplimentary”.

The GMA president, spoke of the name calling, the insults, and allegations against his person, and calIed out doctors, who stoked the fire.   “I think and I believe Council took the best decision. We cannot allow political leadings to become the undoing of the Ghana Medical Association”.

Present at the opening ceremony were, the Minister for Health, Director General of the Ghana Health Service and heads of various professional; associations within the health sector.

Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, Running Mate for the New Patriotic Party, also graced the occasion, and four members, including the Minister for Health and also world-renowned scientist Professor Fred Newton Binka, were inducted Fellows of the Association.

Source: Anchorghana.com