The Ministry of Health has drawn up an incentive package planned for health professionals who accept postings to the rural areas as a means of encouraging them to remain at post.

The package include proposed allowances of 30 per cent for Doctors and 50 per cent for other health workers to enhance their basic salary, free housing with hard furnishing and vehicles and utility vehicles for the health facilities.

Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Health said this in Parliament on Thursday to a question asked by Mr Joseph Tsatsu Agbenu, NDC-Afram Plains North, as to what incentives the ministry has planned to induce Doctors, Nurses and other health workers who have accepted postings to the rural areas to remain at post. Mr. Kwakye Addo, NDC- Afram Plains South asked the question on behalf of Mr. Agbenu.

Dr. Afriyie said the incentive package include housing scheme for the personnel in areas of their choice, cars, motor bikes and bicycles for staff, Midwifery packs for midwives, basic household equipment such as Television sets radio, and fridges on hire purchase opportunities for attendance at conferences and further studies and enhanced salaries.

Mr Addo in a supplementary question asked when the package would be implemented and the Minister said within the next couple of weeks the ministry would come out with the terms. He said the ministry has realised that there are systematic problems in the ministry which have deteriorated over the years and which calls for urgent measures to rectify them.

Alhaji Abdulai Salifu, NDC-Tolon asked how many years a health worker has to stay in a place before he enjoys the proposed package and the Minister said the proposed duration was between three to four years but the key issue was mainly how to retain them, adding that there should be an agreement between the District Assemblies and the personnel to ensure their continuous stay.