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President John Dramani Mahama has admonished 42 freshly graduated doctors to step into the world of work guided by the Hippocratic Oath they have sworn.

He indicated that the world of work for all and especially for the doctors would not be smooth-sailing but said they should be guided by the oath in their service to the country.

“Remember that in all things it is your resoluteness, dedication, love for country and trust in God that will see you through,” he stated.

The President said this in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Education, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman at the 48th congregation and 3rd Oath Swearing and Induction ceremony for 42 graduating doctors at the University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences (UCCSMS) at the weekend.

The 42 newly graduated doctors were 18 females and 24 males.

President Mahama said it was no secret that the country’s health sector was plagued with challenges, key among which was the huge doctor to patient ratio. He assured that the government was doing everything possible to resolve the doctor/patient gap and other pertinent issues affecting the health sector.

“Government is very much committed to finding innovative ways to resolve the challenges confronting the sector,” he said, noting that “after all, the wealth of a nation, it is said is its health.”

President Mahama said the graduation of the young doctors was encouraging as it would shore up the doctor/patient ratio, adding “the more I attend these congregations year after year, the more I become convinced that we are on the right path as far as addressing some of the challenges facing the health sector are concerned.”

He paid tribute to all who had contributed to making the UCCSMS one of the best in the country.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor D.D. Kuupole said the doctors were part of 130 doctors produced by the UCCSMS in the last few years, saying feedback indicated that the products were doing very well.

He noted that the College of Allied Sciences was undergoing transformation with the alignment of some already established departments within the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences.

He said the academic board of the University in the year under review approved the establishment of the School of Allied Health Sciences within the college. The board also gave approval to run six academic programmes, adding that the college has started the process of obtaining accreditation from the National Accreditation Board and other relevant professional bodies.

He said the school has appealed for the approval for the use of the Effia Nkwanta Hospital as a teaching hospital for its students.

Challenges
Prof Kuupole noted that the main challenge of the medical school was the non-completion of structures at its permanent site. He commended the GETFund for the support in continuing some of the structures to help increase intake.

Advice to doctors
He advised the doctors to have passion for their work and to keep researching and updating their professional knowledge.

The doctors took the Hippocratic Oath and were later inducted into the Medical and Dental Council.

The Chairman of the University Council, Nana Sam Brew Butler commended UCCSMS for its high standards and excellence and urged the doctors to be guided in their work by the virtues of honesty, integrity and professionalism.