Salary Structure of Medical Doctors in Ghana

Medical doctor salary in Ghana? Have you been wondering how much doctors earn in Ghana? We’ll take you through the pay structure for doctors in Ghana. We’ll show you a breakdown of doctors allowances in the Ghanaian health sector.

Medicine is a noble profession and is generally regarded among the best and most profitable professions for all the right reasons. The pride of being a medical doctor is one of the reasons many students in Ghana want to be enrolled in medical schools.

Unfortunately, the pay structure in Ghana has not really been as effective as it should be. In fact, one thing the healthcare system in the country is known for is the frequency of industrial action usually taken by medical professionals. And the reason often boils down to poor welfare and salary packages.

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Apart from salary and welfare issues, doctors also face other challenges. One of the prominent ones is unemployment, which was rarely heard of in the past. Maybe this is a result of many people enrolling to study medicine.

For this article, we’ll be looking at how much medical doctors earn in Ghana. In this post, we’ll be considering the average salaries of doctors who work in government hospitals.

Contents

Doctors Salary: How Much Do Doctors Earn in Ghana?

There’s been a lot of debate as to what medical doctors currently earn in Ghana. Just like every other government institution in Ghana, doctors are also placed on the Single-Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).   

There have been a lot of controversial publications about doctors’ salaries in Ghana. It is generally believed that doctors are well-paid in Ghana. But in reality, the reverse is the case. This has led to a lot of agitation for improved pay by medical practitioners. Not only that, but a lot of young doctors are leaving Ghana in search of greener pastures abroad due to harsh working conditions.

The incessant strikes in the health sector championed by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) have not also helped matters. Due to the nature of their job, doctors are generally supposed to earn a lot.

Doctors’ Salary Structure in Ghana

According to a controversial publication by the Daily Graphic, Ghanaian specialist doctors earn around GH¢ 5,000 under the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).

In another report, it is also stated that senior medical officers have an existing salary between GH¢ 3,469.53 and GH¢ 3, 970.44. However, the payslips of senior medical officers indicate a gross monthly salary of GH¢ 1900.00, which, after tax deductions, comes to GH¢ 1600.00.

SEE ALSO: How To Become A Medical Doctor In Ghana.

Doctors’ Allowances in Ghana

Apart from salaries, medical doctors in Ghana also have access to other allowances and bonuses. Part of the allowances being agitated for by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) include:

  • Accommodation Allowance: 40% of Basic Salary
  • On-Call Duty Facilitation Allowance: 20% of Basic Salary
  • Clothing Allowance: 30% of Basic Salary
  • Book Allowance: 30% of Basic Salary
  • Utility Allowance: 20% of Basic Salary
  • Professional Allowance: 50% of Basic Salary
  • Special Risk Allowance: 25% of Basic Salary
  • Vehicle Maintenance Allowance: 20% of Basic Salary

Medical Doctors demand

In addition to the implementation of the conditions of service documents signed by the government, the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) is also pressing demands concerning the National Health Insurance Scheme among others.

Conclusion

It may seem like the salaries of Ghanaian doctors aren’t anywhere close to what is obtained in developed countries like the U.S. and the U.K., nonetheless, the profession still comes with an intrinsic benefit which is the joy of providing care and saving lives. This act of service by the doctor can never really be quantified in monetary value.

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3 Comments

  1. This means that doctors earn about thrice their salary when allowances are included so why are they always complaining? Do they think they’re the only professionals in Ghana?

  2. There’s nothing like joy of making someone smile in any profession. The joy comes when you can afford a good home, your kids are attending better and proper schools, and you can afford a vacation with your family in Paris on your salary. That silly excuse will not be tolerated in 2022. Why don’t parliamentarians and the Presidents take lesser pay and be joyful that the Ghanaian citizen is for once smiling of proper social benefits and proper infrastructure.

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