Physician Assistants Deserve Priority in Upcoming Postings – Francis Appiah Appeals to Government

Accra, Ghana – Health advocate and former National President of the Physician Assistant Students Association of Ghana (PASAG), Francis Appiah, has called on government and health authorities to prioritize Physician Assistants (PAs) in the upcoming health sector postings.

Speaking today on Happy FM, Appiah emphasized that many trained Physician Assistants in Ghana have remained at home for as long as seven years without posting, despite the crucial role they play in delivering healthcare services, especially in underserved communities.

According to him, Physician Assistants have consistently proven to be a vital pillar in Ghana’s healthcare delivery system, particularly in health centres and rural facilities where medical doctors are often unwilling or unable to serve.

Appiah noted that across many rural and deprived communities in Ghana, PAs are the frontline healthcare providers, attending to patients, managing emergencies, and ensuring that basic medical services remain available to the population.

“Physician Assistants have been in the house for years after completing their training, yet our health centres still depend heavily on them,” he said during the discussion. “In many rural facilities where medical doctors do not go when they are posted, Physician Assistants remain the backbone of healthcare delivery.”

He stressed that giving priority to Physician Assistants in the upcoming postings will not only reduce unemployment among trained health professionals but will also strengthen primary healthcare services, particularly in remote parts of the country.

Appiah, who also once aspired to represent Physician Assistants as their Member of the Medical and Dental Council, believes that empowering and deploying more PAs is a practical solution to addressing healthcare workforce shortages across the country.

He therefore urged the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities to consider the plight of trained Physician Assistants and ensure that they receive the necessary opportunity to serve the nation.

“Deploying Physician Assistants is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to improve healthcare access in Ghana’s rural communities,” Appiah added.

His comments have already sparked conversations among healthcare stakeholders and young health professionals who believe that recognizing the contribution of Physician Assistants is key to strengthening Ghana’s health system.