Alfred Thompson, member of the New Patriotic Party’s Communications Team, has criticised the growing tendency to publicly blame doctors and nurses for challenges in healthcare system, arguing that the country’s health crisis is rooted in longstanding structural problems rather than individual failures.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on May 8, during a discussion on the state of healthcare delivery, the NPP aspiring national treasurer said publicly naming and shaming health workers over incidents at hospitals does little to solve the deeper issues confronting the sector.
According to Mr Thompson, overcrowding, lack of beds, inadequate infrastructure and pressure on medical staff continue to strain healthcare delivery, particularly at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
“When you punish or shame these doctors, does it bring more beds to Korle Bu? Does it solve the Agenda 111 problem? Does it bring more hospitals on beds?” he questioned.
He argued that many health workers operate under difficult conditions while trying to save lives, adding that the public often overlooks the intense pressure doctors and nurses face daily.
“You rush a patient to the hospital and there are no beds. What should the doctor do? It is a tight situation,” he said.
Mr Alfred Thompson called for regular counselling and psychological support for health workers, saying stress and burnout within hospitals have largely been ignored.
“We need constant counselling for doctors, nurses, pharmacists and all health workers because what they go through daily is quite difficult,” he stated.
He also criticised what he described as the country’s focus on constructing new health facilities while neglecting expansion of existing major hospitals.
Using Korle Bu as an example, he questioned why additional wards and modern blocks had not been added despite the growing population and increasing referrals from across the country.
“Everything comes back to Korle Bu as the hospital of hospitals. What have we really done there? The same old blocks are still serving a much larger population,” he said.
He further noted that many ordinary Ghanaians struggle to access quality healthcare, while political leaders and wealthy individuals often travel abroad for medical treatment.
“They do not feel the pain of the ordinary Ghanaian because they can afford to fly out for medical checks,” he said.
He stressed that healthcare should remain a national priority, warning that frustrations among health workers could worsen if broader economic and workplace concerns are not addressed.
“When you speak to some nurses and doctors, you realise they have serious challenges in their hospitals,” he added.
