Healthcare ethics must not yield to pressure

The Chairman of the Medical and Dental Council, Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, at the 14th Annual General and Scientific Meeting of the Ghana Association of Radiologists in Accra on Thursday, May 21, 2026, expressed deep concern over the rising number of malpractice and professional misconduct complaints landing on the council’s desk. 

The Daily Graphic believes that the situation reflects a troubling decline in adherence to professional ethics, accountability and patient-centred care in parts of the sector.

The numbers tell the story.

“The number of people who are sending cases to the Medical and Dental Council, it is worrying.

It is worrying! We have so many cases backlogged that we’re having to investigate,” he remarked. 

Behind those words are hundreds of patients and families who feel aggrieved by their experiences in hospitals and clinics, and who are now bold enough to seek redress through formal channels.

That boldness in the face of loss and pain is itself an encouraging step. 

For too long, many Ghanaians endured poor treatment, negligence or outright abuse in silence, perhaps out of ignorance of their rights, fear of retribution, or a belief that nothing would change.

The fact that patients are now reporting their experience to the Medical and Dental Council shows growing awareness and confidence in the system. 

It is a sign of a maturing health sector where accountability is no longer optional.

The council’s mandate is to protect the public by regulating the conduct and competence of medical and dental practitioners.

When that mandate is executed fairly and transparently, it strengthens public trust in the profession and deters reckless behaviour.

But the rising caseload also raises uncomfortable questions about what is happening inside consulting rooms, wards and operating theatres across the country.

No one denies that the country’s health system operates under severe strain.

Understaffing, inadequate equipment, poor infrastructure and long working hours are daily realities for many health workers.

Burnout is real, and systemic challenges can erode morale, particularly where juniors, always overworked and drained of empathy, are quickly pushed out as scapegoats.

The situation has persisted partly because institutional accountability hardly features anywhere.

But these challenges must not become excuses for neglecting patient care.

Health professionals are trained to provide essential interventions in emergencies, and patients deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and competence regardless of the pressures in the system.

At the heart of the issue is professionalism. Professionalism is not just about technical competence.

It includes communication, empathy, proper documentation, informed consent, confidentiality and the willingness to admit and learn from mistakes.

The Daily Graphic believes that three things must happen urgently to reverse this trend.

First, medical and dental schools and professional associations must strengthen ethics and communication training.

Technical skills alone do not make a good doctor or dentist.

Trainees need structured exposure to patient-centred care, conflict resolution, and the legal and ethical obligations of their profession.

Continuous professional development should not be a box-ticking exercise but a genuine platform for reflecting on practice and learning from complaints and near misses.

Second, health institutions must build a culture of accountability and learning, not blame and concealment.

When errors occur, the response should be to investigate, understand why, and implement changes to prevent recurrence.

Staff who report concerns should be protected, not victimised.

Hospital management must also ensure that grievance mechanisms are accessible and responsive so that issues are resolved internally before they escalate to the council.

Third, the council must be adequately resourced to handle its investigative and disciplinary functions efficiently.

A backlog of cases means delayed justice for both patients and accused practitioners.

Prolonged uncertainty damages reputations and prolongs the trauma for complainants. 

Ghana has made significant strides in expanding access to health care through the National Health Insurance Scheme, CHPS compounds and specialised facilities.

Those gains will mean little if patients cannot trust that they will be treated ethically and competently when they walk through the hospital door.

Prof. Akosa’s comments are not an attack on health workers.

They are a call to uphold the oath that every practitioner swears: to do no harm, to act in the patient’s best interest, and to maintain the honour and noble traditions of the medical profession. 

Patient-centred care, ethical practice and accountability are the foundation of a health system worthy of the people it serves.

Ghana cannot afford to erode them further.