A group of 320 pharmacy house officers from the 2022 cohort have called on the government to immediately disburse allowances owed to them for their year-long housemanship.
The officers, who have completed their mandatory training in various health institutions across the country, have gone 12 months without receiving any remuneration, leaving them in a state of financial distress.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Dr. Jeremy Owusu-Efrifa, one of the leaders of the group, expressed their frustration over the prolonged delay in payment. He highlighted the essential role pharmacy house officers play in the healthcare system, emphasising that their work is crucial to ensuring patient safety and improving health outcomes.
“Despite successfully completing our housemanship, the allowances that are rightfully ours have not been paid. These allowances serve as our legal remuneration, akin to a salary, yet we have been left without any financial support for an entire year,” Dr. Owusu-Efrifa stated.
The officers, who are under the 18H Single Spine Salary structure, have not received a penny since beginning their housemanship in July 2023.
The situation has been exacerbated by the current economic challenges in Ghana, leaving many of them struggling to meet basic needs like rent, food and transportation.
It is disheartening to learn that over 320 House Officers, who have diligently completed their mandatory housemanship, as part of their Doctor of Pharmacy training, have gone unpaid for more than a year.
These young professionals, who play a critical role in ensuring the health and well-being of Ghanaians, are now facing severe financial hardship due to the government’s failure to disburse their allowances.
The Officers, led by Dr. Jeremy Owusu-Efrifa, have been left in a state of despair. Despite completing their housemanship, which is an essential phase in their professional development, they have yet to receive the allowances they rightfully earned.
These allowances are not merely a form of remuneration but a recognition of their invaluable contributions to the healthcare system. Yet, after two years of relentless pursuit, these young pharmacists find themselves in a dire situation, forced to depend on their already burdened families to make ends meet.
The plight of these house officers is not just a financial issue; it is a matter of human dignity. These professionals have dedicated years to rigorous education and training, only to be met with neglect by the very system they serve.
How can we expect them to care for patients when they are struggling to care for themselves? The emotional and psychological toll of this prolonged uncertainty cannot be understated.
It is important to recognise the crucial role they play in the healthcare system. From managing complex medication therapies to collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, they ensure that patients receive the highest standard of care.
Their efforts in Antimicrobial stewardship, Oncology medication preparation and patient education are vital in improving health outcomes across the country. Yet, their contributions have been met with silence and inaction.
The government’s delay in paying these allowances not only undermines the morale of these young professionals but also threatens the future of healthcare in Ghana.
If we continue to treat our healthcare workers with such disregard, we risk losing the very people who are essential to maintaining and improving our healthcare system. This issue goes beyond the immediate financial strain—it speaks to the integrity and reliability of our institutions.
The Ministry of Health, along with all relevant stakeholders, must act swiftly to resolve this matter. The immediate disbursement of all outstanding allowances is non-negotiable.
Furthermore, the government must implement strategic measures to prevent such delays from occurring in the future. A transparent and efficient system for the timely disbursement of allowances must be established to ensure that this unfortunate situation is not repeated with future batches of house officers.
It is not enough for the government to offer platitudes or promises of future action. The time for words has long passed. These young professionals deserve more than empty reassurances; they deserve justice.
The government must demonstrate that it values the sacrifices and contributions of these healthcare workers by paying them what they are owed without any further delay.
