The Ghana Society of Radiographers is unhappy with a move by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to employ the services of biomedical engineers who have been trained for only 10 days to operate some digital X-ray machines installed at various facilities across the country.
The Society said the biomedical engineers lack the adequate skills to operate the equipment and allowing them to handle that equipment could further hamper the delivery of quality healthcare in the country.
In a press statement dated April 22, 2019, and signed by National President Prince Rockson, the radiographers fear the consequences of the action could be dire.
“I wish to draw the attention of the general public to an illegal act the Ghana Health Service (GHS) with other stakeholders, Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA), Radiation Protection Institute (RPI), National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) and Universal DELFT) are in the process of undertaking which will be detrimental to the health care system of this country,” the statement read.
The Vice President of the Society, Dennis Ahia, in an interview with Citi News on the matter, said his outfit engaged the Ghana Health Service with 45 names of qualified radiographers to operate the machines but only two were granted the clearance.
He also called for the halting of the training and deployment of the biomedical engineers to allow for a stakeholder meeting to resolve the issue.
“The Director General of the Ghana Health Service, met with our operation body and we submitted 45 names of radiographers to the GHS for onward submission to the Ministry of Finance for financial clearance but the issuance of the financial clearance delayed… The objection we are raising is the training of the biomedical engineers in 10 days. The biomedical engineers have a different job description from a radiographer. They repair and maintain equipment.”
“We want them to stop the training program and we all sit down and look at the measures we have prepared and fill in the gap,” he said.
The Society also threatened a lawsuit against the Ghana Health Service over the matter if the agency is unwilling to address the issue.
Meanwhile the Ghana Health Service has attributed the situation to the unwillingness of members of the Ghana Society of Radiographers to accept postings to other parts of the country.
According to the service, the attitude of the radiographers has forced them to seek the services of other professionals.
