Ghana’s physician assistants demand greater autonomy amid rising tensions

Abstract

The tension between doctors and physician assistants is a global dilemma and Ghana is no different. Yemisi Bokinni reports “Disappointed chameleons.” That’s how Frank Serebour, president of the Ghana Medical Association, reportedly referred to physician assistants (PAs). His comments sparked calls for his resignation in 2022.1 This sharp rhetoric has stoked tensions, fuelling perceptions of an elitist and ego driven divide in Ghana’s healthcare system. In 2023 the Medical and Dental Council (MDC) de-accredited more than half of Ghana’s university PA training programmes, leading to accusations of professional gatekeeping—particularly since reasons for the de-accreditations were never made public. The BMJ asked the MDC for comment, but did not receive a reply. “About 10 universities were running a PA programme prior to that action by the MDC. Now we have only about five, or maybe fewer than that,” says Joel Padi, secretary general of the West African Association of Physician Assistants (WAAPA). Others say that attempts have been made to restrict PAs’ scope of practice—which is unrealistic when PAs form a central part of the primary healthcare system. “Almost 90% of health centres in Ghana are headed by PAs,” Padi tells The BMJ . The capital city of Accra is the only …