The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) has appealed to government to widen its scope of frontline health workers in the country in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic in Ghana.

Following the announcement of additional allowances for frontline health workers in the country by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, there have been public discussions on who among the general health workers qualify as frontline health workers. The Ghana Medical Association has argued all health workers are frontline health workers.

The position of the GMA has been backed by the Pharmacists Association.

Speaking on Starr Today Monday, a fellow at the CDD Kwame Sarpong Asiedu said there is the need to cover more health people in the bracket.

“We need to broaden the scope of frontline health workers. Anybody who stands the potential of being infected in the line of his duty is a frontline health worker, the pharmacist, the lab technician and many others stand equal risk as anyone in the structure of health delivery,” he said.

Among other incentives for health workers, President Akufo-Addo said: “An insurance package, with an assured sum of ¢350,000 for each health personnel and allied professional at the forefront of the fight, has been put in place, with a daily allowance of ¢150 being paid to contact tracers.

“Government has also decided that all health workers will not pay taxes on their emoluments for the next three months, i.e. April, May and June. Furthermore, all frontline health workers will receive an additional allowance of 50% of their basic salary per month, i.e. for March, April, May and June. The March allowance will be paid alongside that of April. The Ministry of Transport is also making available, for free, ‘Aayalolo’ buses to convey health workers in Accra, Tema, Kumasi and Kasoa to and from work, along specific routes, for the entire duration of the restrictions”.