Health Ministry Clears Arrears for 13,000 Nurses as MDC Inducts 746 New Physician Assistants

The Ministry of Health has made significant strides in addressing healthcare labor concerns and expanding the national workforce, announcing that 99% of previously unpaid nurses and midwives have now received their salary arrears. This milestone was revealed alongside the induction of 746 newly qualified physician assistants by the Medical and Dental Council (MDC). These developments signal a concerted effort by the President John Mahama-led administration to stabilize the health sector and ensure that frontline workers are adequately supported and regulated as they enter the public health system.

The Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives, representing over 13,000 professionals recruited in December 2024, confirmed the successful disbursement of overdue payments following intensive engagements with the Ministries of Health and Finance. Coalition President Stephen Kwadwo Takyiah expressed profound gratitude to the Health Minister, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, for his personal intervention in resolving the long-standing financial hurdles. The coalition, which had been a vocal advocate for its members' welfare, indicated that it expects to formally dissolve by the end of August as the "unpaid" label is finally shed.

Simultaneously, the Medical and Dental Council (MDC) has bolstered the country's clinical capacity by granting provisional registration to a second batch of 746 physician assistants. This latest induction brings the total number of newly registered assistants to 864, all of whom are now set to begin mandatory internships across various health facilities in Ghana. During the ceremony, the Registrar of the MDC, Dr. Divine N. Banyubala, emphasized the non-negotiable nature of professionalism and ethical conduct, urging the inductees to uphold high standards of patient care while the council continues to enhance training and professional development frameworks.

Looking ahead, the government has outlined an ambitious recruitment strategy to sustain this momentum and prevent future backlogs in salary payments. Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh announced plans to recruit 16,000 health professionals in 2026, with financial clearance for 8,000 positions already secured. By streamlining the transition from graduation to employment, the Ministry aims to create a more resilient health system that prioritizes both the expansion of service delivery and the timely remuneration of its dedicated workforce.