Two hundred and twenty nine newly qualified medical doctors were last Saturday inducted into the Medical and Dental Council (MDC) at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Accra.
The doctors, who were trained by the various medical training institutions in the country, were inducted after satisfying all the requirements of the council.
They swore both the Hippocratic Oath and recited the National Pledge to commit themselves to put their patients and the nation first and perform their duties diligently.
The doctors pledged not to let religion, nationality, race, party politics or social standing interfere in their duty in providing care for their patients.
They also pledged to practice the profession with conscience and dignity and also respect the secrets which are confided in them, even after the death of their patients.
Quality health care
The Minister of Health, Mr Alex Sebgefia, in a speech read on his behalf, by Dr Afissah Zachariah, Acting Chief Director at the Ministry of Health, told the newly inducted doctors, that health systems were increasingly being required to provide quality health care.
He, therefore, urged them not to leave anything to chance but give of their best as they pursue the profession.
As young professionals, he advised them to improve their scientific knowledge and take advantage of technology in order to enhance healthcare delivery.
Mr Sebgefia further urged the doctors to be grounded by the spirit of honesty and hard work bearing in mind the Hippocratic Oath.
Accept postings
The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, asked the doctors to accept their postings irrespective of the area.
To make their stay in the district and rural areas comfortable, he said the service was currently putting in place measures to ensure that their postings were stress free.
As part of the measures, he said regional health directors and the local authorities had been directed to provide accommodation for doctors who were posted to their communities.
He added that arrangement were also being made to ensure that the regional directorate funded the career development of doctors in their areas to enable them to enhance their skills.
Respect patients
A board member of the MDC, Dr Ernest Yorke, urged the doctors to uphold professional standards and respect their patients.
He urged them to bear in mind the services to their country and make the right decisions, adding that positive attitude towards patients was very important in the service.
The Dean of the Dental School at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Dr Francis Adu-Ababio, in his advice to the newly qualified doctors, told them to treat their patients as they wanted to be treated.
“Do not be consumed by the title, but practise the profession with humility and you will become successful and society will be proud of you”, he stated.
He also impressed on the doctors to show absolute respect to their senior colleagues and give them the opportunity to assist them when the need arose.
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