GHS data shows 70% of newly posted doctors failed to report to assigned regions
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has disclosed that roughly 70% of newly posted medical officers failed to report to the health facilities they were assigned across the country.
According to the data, out of 463 newly posted doctors across Ghana’s 16 regions, only 158 reported, representing just 34% compliance. The remaining 305 doctors, roughly 66%, did not show up for duty.
GHS officials described the situation as a major setback to efforts aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery across underserved and rural areas. Several regions reportedly had little to no arrival of newly posted doctors, raising concerns over staff shortages that could undermine progress toward universal health coverage.
Urban and metropolitan regions such as Greater Accra and Ashanti recorded higher rates of reporting, whereas many rural and remote districts remained unstaffed. This disparity points to continuing challenges in equitable distribution and deployment of health workforce resources.
GHS has urged regional health authorities to intensify engagement with the unreported doctors, encouraging them to honour their postings. The service emphasized that failure to report affects access to essential healthcare services in communities that depend heavily on government-posted medical personnel.
Healthcare experts and civil society advocates have expressed concern that the trend could reverse gains made in rural health infrastructure and widen disparities in access. They warn that without prompt action, some communities may face critical shortages of medical personnel, undermining initiatives aimed at improving maternal health, childcare, and general medical coverage.
To address the crisis, some proposals include incentivizing postings to underserved areas, providing better living and working conditions for doctors, and ensuring transparent posting processes. GHS said it is already reviewing deployment policies and working with relevant authorities to close the reporting gap and protect the health system’s integrity.
