Takoradi, Dec 15, GNA- Madam Sophia Horner-Sam, Deputy Western Regional Minister has said the problems posed by the "brain-drain", especially in the health sector, continue to affect efforts to improve health service delivery in the country. She was speaking at the annual dinner dance and awards night of the Western regional branch of the Ghana Pharmaceutical Association in Takoradi at the weekend.
The Deputy Regional Minister expressed satisfaction about the operations of the association in the region and urged members to coordinate their activities with other stakeholders to check the spread of HIV/AIDS.
She also urged members of the association to take the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) more seriously and make recommendation that would enhance its effective implementation to improve health service delivery.
Dr. Sylvester Anemana, Western Regional Director of Health services noted with concern that Pharmacists have joined the exodus of health personnel to seek greener pastures in foreign countries. He disclosed that 74 of them left the country this year, and said, taking into account the small number of Pharmacists in the country, the health sector would face a very serious problem if the trend continued. Dr. Anemana said the government had instituted incentive packages that would help halt the exodus of health personnel and called for early implementation of the incentives.
Mr. Moses Adjei, the outgoing Regional President of the association asked members to continue to sacrifice and render dedicated service to the people. Mr. Kwame Dapaah, Mr. Emmanuel Baiden and Mrs. Mavis Beatrice Duah-Antoh of the Effia-Nkwanta government hospital and Mr. Charles Kwame Adjei of the Sefwi-Wiaso government hospital were honoured for their dedication and meritorious service.