The Ministry of Health has given several assurances to junior doctors, nurses, pharmacist house officers, and other healthcare trainees regarding the payment of outstanding salaries and allowances.
This follows rising public concern over delayed payments and unpaid entitlements across various cadres in the health sector.
The Health Ministry has made progress in clearing salary and allowance arrears for health workers but significant gaps remain.
Salaries for 321 pharmacist house officers have been paid, yet rotation nurses and allied health interns are still awaiting settlement due to financial clearance challenges left by the previous administration.
On the positive side, 13,500 nurses have been integrated onto the government payroll, with arrears for training allowances and NHIS claims cleared.
Government has also absorbed half of admission fees for nursing trainees.
At Bibiani Government Hospital, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh assured nurses that salary delays are being resolved, with about 7,000 previously unpaid nurses now on payroll.
President John Dramani Mahama further announced that trainee nurses’ allowance arrears will be paid once a new electronic disbursement system is fully operational.
The Ministry acknowledges that unresolved arrears for rotation nurses, interns, and some newly posted house officers remain a challenge, affecting morale and service delivery.
Going forward, the Ministry has pledged closer coordination with the Finance Ministry and Controller and Accountant General’s Department to clear arrears, strengthen payroll systems, and improve financial clearance processes to prevent future delays.
Source: myxzonline.com/J.W. Quarm
