The Clement Kubindiwo (C.K) Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CK-UTAS) in Navrongo, capital of the Kassena-Nankana Municipality of the Region will start medicine programme next year, Hon. Stephen Yakubu, the Upper East Regional Minister has said.
He said the Regional Coordinating Council and management of the University were working to get accreditation from the National Accreditation Board to commence the programme.
The move, he said was intended to beef up the Doctor to patient ratio of 1:24,097 as at 2021.
The Honourable Minister said this in an interview with the media in the region as part of initiatives put in place to ensure adequate Doctors in the region, following the refusal of ten Doctors to accept posting to the region.
He further disclosed that the Regional Hospital, which is the major referral centre for the region, would be upgraded to a Teaching Hospital to provide the needed practical experience for young Doctors.
Hon. Yakubu identified the lack of Medical Consultants in the region as one of the reasons newly posted Doctors refused to report and stay to work in the region, saying that the presence of Consultants would attract young Doctors who would be willing to study under the Consultant.
He entreated all Municipal and District Chief Executives to identify brilliant students willing to study medicine in their respective areas, sponsor them and ensure they were bonded to serve the people.