Editorial: Exporting Health Workers Must Not Leave Our Medical Centres Understaffed

Ghana has deployed 61 health workers to Grenada under a bilateral arrangement aimed at addressing the Caribbean nation’s shortage of skilled healthcare professionals, while creating employment opportunities for Ghanaian workers.

The health professionals will serve in various medical facilities under renewable two-year contracts, as part of the government’s Labour Export Programme, which seeks to connect Ghanaian workers with international employment opportunities.

Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, urged the workers to uphold professionalism, ethical conduct and discipline, describing them as ambassadors of Ghana whose conduct would influence the country’s reputation abroad. He emphasised that qualifications might secure employment, but character would determine long-term success.

The Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, also advised the workers to respect their contractual obligations and perform their duties diligently. He disclosed that the government was planning further deployments of health workers to Germany and other Caribbean countries. The programme is intended to benefit both Ghanaian professionals and countries facing healthcare staffing shortages.

Ghana’s decision to deploy 61 health workers to Grenada under the Labour Export Programme is a welcome initiative that deserves support. The arrangement offers an opportunity to create jobs, earn foreign income, strengthen international cooperation and showcase the competence of Ghanaian healthcare professionals.

However, its long-term success must be measured not only by the number of workers deployed abroad, but also by the benefits to Ghana’s economy and the sustainability of healthcare delivery at home.

The programme presents a practical response to unemployment among trained professionals. Ghana invests considerable public and private resources in educating doctors, nurses, midwives and other health personnel.

Providing these professionals with opportunities to earn competitive salaries and gain international experience can improve their livelihoods while enhancing their skills. Their exposure to different healthcare systems, technologies and clinical practices could also benefit Ghana if mechanisms are established to facilitate knowledge transfer when they return.

Foreign employment can generate remittances, support families and contribute to foreign exchange inflows. However, government must establish clear measures to track these benefits rather than assume that every overseas deployment automatically translates into substantial national revenue.

The greatest concern, however, is whether Ghana can afford to lose more health workers. Ghana itself faces the challenge of having trained professionals who cannot secure public-sector employment while underserved communities continue to experience shortages.

We must, therefore, ensure that exporting health workers does not leave rural hospitals, health centres and maternity units understaffed. Government should conduct a comprehensive health labour market assessment before every deployment, identifying the professions, regions and facilities that can release personnel without compromising essential services.

Equally important, Ghana must address the conditions driving professionals abroad. Competitive remuneration, timely payment of salaries and allowances, adequate equipment, safe working environments, career progression and fair recruitment into public facilities are essential. Training more professionals without providing jobs or retaining experienced personnel will not solve the problem.

Government should negotiate transparent bilateral agreements that protect workers’ salaries, welfare, accommodation, insurance, professional rights and access to dispute-resolution mechanisms. The agreements should also encourage destination countries to contribute to training, skills development and health-system strengthening in Ghana, consistent with the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel.

Furthermore, the government should establish a monitoring framework to assess employment outcomes, foreign-exchange benefits, workers’ welfare and the programme’s impact on domestic staffing. Opportunities for returning professionals to train colleagues and share expertise should be encouraged.

Ghana should embrace international labour mobility, but not at the expense of its citizens’ access to healthcare. The objective must be a mutually beneficial partnership in which Grenada gains skilled professionals, Ghanaian workers gain opportunities, and Ghana strengthens rather than sacrifices its health system.

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