President of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Professor Samuel Debrah, has called for increased investment in postgraduate medical education, describing it as a key driver of healthcare delivery and medical innovation.
Speaking at the 5th Inaugural Lecture of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences for 2026, held at the Kwame Nkrumah Auditorium on Friday, June 19, on the theme “Postgraduate Medical Education and Training in Ghana: Now and the Future,” Professor Debrah said national development should not be measured solely by physical infrastructure but also by improvements in health outcomes.
“We often measure development by roads, bridges, airports and interchanges. Yet, the elimination of maternal mortality, the reduction of infant deaths and the extension of healthy life expectancy are equally important measures of development,” he stated.
Professor Debrah stressed that postgraduate medical education should be viewed as a strategic national investment rather than merely a health sector expense.
According to him, specialist medical training strengthens healthcare systems and improves access to quality healthcare services.
“By producing, retaining and equitably distributing specialist health professionals, postgraduate medical education contributes not only to improved health outcomes, but also to economic productivity, social equity, national resilience and sustainable development,” he said.
He therefore called on government, policymakers and other stakeholders to prioritise investment in postgraduate medical education to secure the future of healthcare delivery and national development.
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Story by Millicent Jackson Quansah | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Erica Odeenyin Odoom
