Ghana
Population (2017): 28.83 M
Income Per Capita (2018): 1813.80 US
Percentage of GDP on Healthcare: 5.91
training
The year Family Medicine established: 1999
Length of Medical School: 6 years
Type of Training: Residency
Length of Training: A 3-year training programme that can be initiated after completing the 2-year required internship
Number of institutions that offer family medicine: Family physicians in Ghana are trained under two independent colleges: the West African College of Physicians (WACP) and Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons (GCPS), (Lawson, Henry J O, and Akye Essuman. 2016.).
Number of family medicine residents graduating each year:
practice
Number of family doctors in a country (2016): 36 family physicians have been trained and 29 junior residents were in training. Stats not found for 2017/2018, (Lawson, Henry J O, and Akye Essuman. 2016.).
Physician to population ratio (2015): 10 doctor to 100,000 patients, (“Ghana Improves on Doctor, Nurse-to-Population Ratio - Ghanaian Times.”).
DALY: 34,141 per 100,000 individuals (Due to all Causes).
Life Expectancy:
Females 2017: 64.1 years
Males 2017: 62.0 years
Mortality rate 2017:
2017 Males: 258 per 1,000 male adults.
2017 Females: 218 per 1,000 female adults.
Infant Immunization-HepB3: % of 1-year-old children received: 97%
College of Family Physicians (Y or N):
Yes: Two independent colleges exist in this country and physicians are trained under either one: 1. The West African College of Physicians (WACP) and 2. The Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons (GCPS).
Healthcare System
The health system in Ghana is mixed, comprised of private, public and faith-based sectors. (“A CLOSER LOOK AT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN GHANA.”), family medicine is recognized within the healthcare system. There is a high level of awareness of family medicine among medical students in Ghana however very few students want to choose it as a specialty because of inadequate understanding of the specialty. (Essuman, A, C Anthony-Krueger, and T A Ndanu. 2013.), number of physician in private and/or public sector: There are 3365 physicians in the private and/or public sector, (“THE HEALTH SECTOR IN GHANA.”).
training
Family medicine is taught in medical school. There is in total of approximately 5 years post-MBChB qualification. There is high level of awareness of family medicine among medical students in Ghana. However, very few students want to choose it as a specialty because of inadequate understanding of the profession.
practice
PHC is designed at the district level as a three-tier system where health services are provided at district, sub-district and community levels. Community health officers offer basic PHC services at the community level, with support from communities. (“Primary Health Care In Ghana.”), The family physician is primarily responsible for providing comprehensive health care to every individual seeking medical care; and arranging for other health personnel to provide services when necessary. (“Global Family Doctor - WONCA Online.”), It is unknown whether or not gatekeeping is practiced. Ghana follows a community based primary healthcare model, (Atinga, Roger A., et al., 2018).