Recruit New Nurses with Salaries of Nurses Who Have Traveled – Ashanti Regional Health Director
The Ashanti Regional Health Director, Dr. Emmanuel Tenkorang, has called for the government to consider offering competitive salaries to new nurses in order to attract and retain qualified healthcare professionals in the region. Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Kumasi, Dr. Tenkorang lamented the high attrition rate of nurses in the region, attributing it to low salaries and better working conditions in other countries. “We have a lot of our nurses traveling abroad because they get better salaries there,” he said. “If we want to keep our nurses and attract new ones, we need to offer them salaries that are comparable to their counterparts who have traveled.” Dr. Tenkorang cited the example of the United Kingdom, where nurses earn significantly higher salaries than their Ghanaian counterparts. As a result, many Ghanaian nurses have migrated to the UK, creating a shortage of healthcare professionals in Ghana. “We can’t compete with the salaries offered in developed countries, but we can at least offer something that is closer to what they are earning there,” he said. “This will make it less attractive for our nurses to leave.” According to Dr. Tenkorang, the region currently has a shortage of over 500 nurses, which is significantly affecting healthcare delivery. He appealed to the government to consider the request for competitive salaries as a matter of urgency. “If we don’t do something about this, we will continue to lose our best and brightest nurses to other countries,” he warned. “This will have a devastating impact on our healthcare system.” The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by representatives from the Ashanti Regional Hospital, the Nurses and Midwives Council of Ghana, and the Ghana Health Service. The participants agreed to support the Regional Health Director’s call for competitive salaries for nurses. The government has not yet responded to the request, but it is hoped that the issue will be addressed in the upcoming budget.
Ashanti Regional Health Director Urges Recruitment of New Nurses with Salaries Comparable to Travel Nurses
In an effort to address the ongoing nursing shortage in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, the Regional Health Director has called for the recruitment of new nurses with salaries that match those of travel nurses. Travel nurses are typically hired on a temporary basis to fill staffing gaps in healthcare facilities. They often command higher salaries than permanent staff nurses due to their flexibility and willingness to work in underserved areas. The Regional Health Director emphasized the need to attract and retain qualified nurses by offering competitive compensation packages. He argued that paying new nurses salaries comparable to travel nurses would make it more appealing for them to choose permanent positions in the region. The initiative aims to strengthen the healthcare system in the Ashanti Region by ensuring an adequate workforce of nurses to provide quality patient care. It is believed that by offering competitive salaries, the region can attract and retain experienced and skilled nurses, ultimately improving health outcomes for residents.