By Daniel Bampoe
The Ghana Medical and Dental Council (GMDC) has revealed that 17 medical practitioners across the country have been reported with various mental health conditions, while another 12 doctors are battling substance abuse, raising fresh concerns about the psychological wellbeing of healthcare professionals and its implications for patient care.
The disclosure was made by the Registrar of the Council, Dr. Divine Banyubala, during a meeting with Parliament’s Health Committee on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, as lawmakers assessed the operations of the country’s health regulatory bodies.
According to Dr. Banyubala, the Council has become increasingly concerned about the growing number of medical practitioners requiring mental health support and has consequently introduced measures to assess affected professionals while ensuring patient safety and maintaining professional standards within the healthcare system.
“We have practitioners who have mental illness, different kinds. Some of them are on substances,” Dr. Banyubala told members of the committee.
He explained that the Medical and Dental Council has established a Health Assessment Panel specifically to evaluate medical practitioners referred to the Council over concerns about their mental health or fitness to practise.
Dr. Banyubala noted that every referral is carefully investigated to determine whether the practitioner poses any risk to patients or requires medical intervention before continuing professional duties.
“When the referral is made, we set up a Health Assessment Panel and in one case when the health assessment panel met and assessed, we saw that there was nothing of note. But, of course, we do what we call watchful waiting,” he explained.
The Registrar indicated that the Council’s approach is aimed at balancing public safety with the wellbeing of healthcare workers by ensuring that practitioners receive the necessary support instead of immediate punitive action where appropriate.
The revelation comes against the backdrop of increasing global concerns over burnout, depression, anxiety, workplace stress and substance abuse among healthcare professionals, particularly following years of pressure on health systems after the COVID-19 pandemic and continuing staff shortages.
Dr. Banyubala disclosed that in recognition of the growing challenge, the Council convened a national stakeholder conference in February 2026 to examine the state of mental health among healthcare professionals in Ghana and identify practical interventions.
He said participants at the conference reached a consensus that the Medical and Dental Council should spearhead a comprehensive baseline study on mental health and fitness to practise among healthcare workers to better understand the extent of the problem.
According to him, the conference also examined broader issues affecting the resilience of Ghana’s healthcare workforce, including whether adequate workplace structures exist to support healthcare professionals experiencing psychological distress, addiction or other mental health challenges.
The discussions further focused on strengthening institutional arrangements to ensure healthcare workers in need of care receive timely psychological and medical support while safeguarding the quality of healthcare delivery.
